Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday to offer condolences for the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City. This marked the first contact between Modi and Abbas since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, followed by retaliatory Israeli strikes that escalated tensions across West Asia.
Modi, in a post on X, said, “Spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority H.E. Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region. Reiterated India’s long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue.”
The Palestinians attribute the deaths at the Al Ahli Hospital to an Israeli missile strike, while Israel contends that a rocket fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad malfunctioned and hit the hospital, leading to casualties.
The day before, Modi responded to the incident at the Gaza hospital.
“Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible, ” Modi, in a post on X, said.
