India backs three-year UNRWA mandate extension for Palestine refugees at UNGA

India voted in favour of renewing the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the United Nations General Assembly, continuing the agency’s operations for the next three years as part of the regular renewal cycle followed by member states.

The resolution on “Assistance to Palestine Refugees” received 151 votes in support, with 10 nations opposing it and 14 abstaining.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini welcomed the outcome, saying he “saluted the overwhelming vote” and noted that it reflects global solidarity with Palestine refugees. He stressed that the vote must now be matched with “genuine commitment and resources” to fulfil the agency’s mandate.

India, which maintains an independent and balanced approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict, neither aligning with Israel nor Hamas, has long supported humanitarian efforts for the Palestinian people. Earlier External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reiterated India’s backing of a two-state solution and highlighted New Delhi’s consistent financial contributions to UNRWA, amounting to USD 5 million annually. India has also provided humanitarian assistance in cash, medical supplies, food relief and other essential materials over the years, underscoring its sustained commitment to Palestinian welfare.

Over the years, India has steadily expanded its financial assistance to Palestinian refugees. New Delhi increased its annual contribution to UNRWA from USD 1.25 million in 2016 to USD 5 million from 2018 onward. The support has continued even during periods of conflict, with India releasing the first tranche of its USD 5 million annual pledge for both 2023-24 and 2024-25, reaffirming its long-term commitment to the agency’s humanitarian work.

UNRWA plays a central role in supporting Palestine refugees through education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure improvements, protection work, microfinance programmes and emergency assistance.

Israel has opposed the renewal of the mandate, claiming the organisation “has been a facilitator for Hamas’s military buildup.” Countries voting against the renewal included Argentina, Fiji, Hungary, North Macedonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga, the United States and Israel, while 14 other nations abstained.

Last month, Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein alleged that two Hamas operatives, Ashraf Mahd El Madhoun and Mohammed Ibrahim Abd Ghafour, had previously worked for UNRWA.