RAMALLAH, August 20, 2026 (WAFA) — Vice Minister of External Affairs of India, Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, concluded her official visit to the State of Palestine from 18–20 August 2026. The visit provided further momentum to the longstanding India-Palestine partnership, with a focus on health cooperation, development partnership, skills and capacity building, and community engagement.

During the visit, Ranganathan called on Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine; Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates; Majed Abu Ramadan, Minister of Health; and Enas Dahadha Attari, Minister of Labour; and Majdi Al Khaldi, Diplomatic Affairs Advisor to the President.

The engagements provided an opportunity for the review of the full range of India-Palestine relations, exchange of views on regional and international developments, and exploration of avenues for further strengthening bilateral cooperation. Ranganathan reiterated India’s principled and longstanding support to a negotiated two-State solution.

A major outcome of the visit was the ground breaking of the Indian Super Specialty Hospital in Arrabeh, Jenin, a major Government of India-funded development project being taken forward pursuant to the commitment made by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The hospital will have multiple specialities including a trauma centre and is expected to strengthen access to advanced and specialized medical services, particularly for communities in Jenin and the northern West Bank.

This was launched by the Prime Minister and Vice Minister through a remote ceremony held simultaneously in Ramallah and Arrabeh, Jenin, in the presence of Ministers of Health, Foreign Affairs and Labour and officials at the Prime Minister’s office, local authorities and key stakeholders. Two MoUs on “Construction of Super - Specialty hospital in Palestine” and “Supporting Vocational Training Program in printing sector”, were also signed by the ViceMinister with Maged Abu Ramadan, Minister of Health and Enas Dahadha Attari, Minister of Labour, in the presence of the Prime Minister.

Earlier, Vice Minister called on the Health Minister of Palestine where they discussed further deepening cooperation in the health sector including training cooperation. Vice Minister informed of our decision to organise a prosthetic limb camp in Palestine and donation of BHISHM Cube, a mobile health centre, for use in Gaza. She handed over the first tranche of life saving medicines. 

Ranganathan also visited an UNRWA Health Centre in Al-Am’ari Refugee Camp, where she was briefed on the Agency’s health services and their importance in meeting the needs of Palestine refugees, underscoring India’s longstanding support for UNRWA.

The visit highlighted the breadth of India’s development partnership with Palestine across education, institution building, vocational training and women’s empowerment.

In the education sector, cooperation was advanced through the “School-in-a-Box” initiative, undertaken with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, which includes provision of digital educational resources to support modern learning environment in Palestinian schools, especially in Gaza.

The MoU on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the printing sector will further build on India’s support to the Palestinian printing sector, including through the Government of India-funded Palestinian National Printing Press. Ranganathan visited the Press and was briefed on its operations and technical capacities.

The Vice Minister also visited ongoing Government of India-funded projects in Palestine, including the India–Palestine Centre for Empowering Women “Turathi” and the Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy, reflecting India’s continued support for women’s economic empowerment, institutional capacity building and human resource development.

Ranganathan visited the Government of India-funded India–Palestine Techno Park, together with the Ministers of Education and Higher Education and Telecommunications and Digital Economy. During the visit, she toured the facility and participated in an India–Palestine Innovation Policy Roundtable with representatives of Palestine’s technology and innovation ecosystem. The discussions explored practical opportunities for cooperation in areas including digital public infrastructure, entrepreneurship and capacity building, while highlighting the role of technology and innovation in supporting sustainable economic development.

During the visit, the Vice Minister also engaged with local communities and institutions benefiting from India-supported development initiatives. In Jericho, Ranganathan, together with Hussein Hamayel, Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, inaugurated a Government of India-supported Quick Impact Project implemented in cooperation with the Jericho Women’s Charitable Society. The project supported the rehabilitation, furnishing and modernization of educational facilities at the Society’s school, contributing to an improved learning environment for students and teachers.

Palestinian leaders and officials welcomed the initiatives advanced during the visit and expressed appreciation for India’s longstanding support to the Palestinian people. They highlighted the importance of India’s development partnership in strengthening essential public services, building institutional capacity and responding to Palestinian development priorities. 

The visit highlighted the breadth and depth of the India-Palestine partnership, combining high-level political engagement with development cooperation that delivers practical outcomes in priority sectors. India remains firmly committed to supporting the Palestinian people through initiatives that respond to Palestinian priorities, strengthen institutions and public services, and contribute meaningfully to people’s lives.

K.T