Position on Palestine issue has not changed: India

NEW DELHI: Amid US President Donald Trump's stated plan of relocating more than two million Palestinians to neighbouring Arab countries and taking over the Gaza Strip, India asserted Friday that its own position on the Palestine issue has not changed.

"On the Gaza Strip, you are aware of what our stand is on the issue of Palestine. It's a long-standing position. It has not changed," said foreign secretary Vikram Misri .

The conflict in West Asia is likely to figure in Trump's bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi next week. While many Arab representatives have described the plan as illegal, Israel has endorsed it and is said to be already preparing to execute it.

India's Palestine policy always has been to support a negotiated two State solution , towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine within "secure and recognized borders, living side by side in peace with Israel".

India strongly condemned the terror attacks on Israel on Oct 7, 2023 by Hamas and later also the loss of civilian lives in the Israel-Hamas conflict. India also continues to extend humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine both bilaterally and through United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees in Near East (UNRWA).