Apart from strong political support to the Palestinian cause at international, regional and bilateral levels, India has also been contributing material and technical assistance to the Palestinian people. With the establishment of PNA in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and opening of the Representative Office of India in Gaza in 1996 (later shifted to Ramallah in West Bank in 2003), several areas have been identified for cooperation.
2. The first Indian commitment to Palestine in the form of aid was in 1993 in Washington where India pledged US$ 1 million for providing humanitarian food assistance, financing of the expenditure of the Palestinian Embassy in New Delhi and funding for training of the PNA cadres in India.
3. The second pledge was made in Paris in 1996 for US$ 1 million. With this pledge India completed two projects in the field of higher education (i) Jawaharlal Nehru Library at the Al Azhar University in Gaza city; and (ii) Mahatma Gandhi Library-cum-Student Activity Centre at the Palestine Technical College at Deir Al Balah in the Gaza Strip. The two buildings were officially inaugurated by EAM, ShriJaswant Singh, during his visit in June 2000. India also provided technical and scientific books to the two institutions.
4. The third pledge was of US$ 1 million in 1998 in Washington DC for funding the training of the PNA cadres in India and to construct two additional floors of Jawaharlal Nehru Library at the Al Azhar University in Gaza. In March 2001, India provided medical supplies and food items worth US$ 0.16 million. A third lot of medicines worth Rupees 1 crore was delivered during the visit of MOS (EA), Shri E. Ahamed, to Palestine in September 2004.
5. In August 2003, Government of India announced a donation of twelve Tata Safari vehicles and medicines. Following this a Medical aid worth US$ 2 million was announced by the Government of India under the humanitarian assistance programme in May 2006.
6. During the visit of President Mahmoud Abbas to India in May 2005, a pledge of US$ 15 million as project assistance was made; against which various projects were identified including Palestine Embassy & residence complex in New Delhi. The Embassy building was inaugurated on September 11, 2012 during the visit of President Abbas to India.
7. During Paris Donors' Conference in December 2007, India announced a fresh commitment of US$ 5 million as project assistance.
8. During President Abbas's State visit to India in Oct 2008, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh announced a grant of US$ 10 million as budgetary support to the Palestine National Authority as well as an additional US$ 10 million in project assistance for Palestinian development programmes.
9. In February 2010, during the visit of President Abbas, a pledge of US$ 10 million as budgetary support was made.
10. During the State Visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (10-12 September 2012), three MOUs were signed (i) setting up of India-Palestine Centre for Excellence in ICT (IPCEICT) & Digital Learning & Innovation Centre; (ii) Building of two schools in Palestine; and (iii) supply of Technical & Vocational Education Training (TVET) Equipment and Training Services to 7 Vocational Training Centres in Palestine. The projects are expected to be completed this year. Additionally, budgetary assistance worth US$ 10 million was also announced for Palestine during the visit.
11. In October 2014, in Gaza reconstruction conference, India pledged US$ 4 million and transferred the same to the State of Palestine in January 2015.
SUPPORT TO UNRWA
12. India annually contributes US$ 1 million in UNRWA's general fund which is primarily utilized for food and medicines for the Palestinian refugees.
INDIA-BRAZIL-SOUTH AFRICA (IBSA) FORUM ASSISTANCE
13. In December 2007, during Paris Donors' Conference, IBSA pledged to allocate funds amounting to US$ 3 million to PNA over a period of three years (US$ 1 million yearly). Following this, IBSA allocated US$ 1 million for a project to construct an Indoor Multipurpose Sports Centre in Ramallah. The project was completed in 2013. US$ 1 million was pledged to rebuild the Cultural and Hospital Centre (Phase I) in Gaza. The work was completed and the building was handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society on April 25, 2013. The third project costing US$ 1.25 million to build a rehabilitation center in Nablus is under progress and is to be completed by December 2015. US$ 0.63 million was pledged to extend IBSA's first initiative of rebuilding the Cultural and Hospital Centre (Phase II) for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza. The project began in May 2014 and was supposed to be completed by July 2015. In 2015, US$ 1 million was pledged for reconstruction of Atta Habib Medical Centre in Gaza city.
