Palestine’s decision to support India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term comes at a time when both countries are seeking greater space for their interests within an international system experiencing significant political change. The endorsement is important not only for India’s campaign but also because it reflects the multidimensional nature of India-Palestine relations.
This relationship now extends from political solidarity to healthcare, rehabilitation, development and economic reconstruction.
Palestinian Ambassador to India Abdullah Mohammad Abu Shawesh has expressed support for India’s UNSC candidature. He further argued that India deserves a permanent place on the Council. His position reflects Palestine’s broader support for reforming the existing structure of the Security Council and giving greater representation to major countries that remain outside the permanent membership.
For India, the timing is particularly significant. New Delhi formally launched its campaign for the 2028-29 UNSC term on July 13, 2026. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar presented India’s candidature at a moment when the UN is facing growing questions over its ability to respond effectively to wars, humanitarian emergencies or changing global power relations. India has also repeatedly argued that international institutions need to better reflect the realities of the contemporary world. Palestine’s backing therefore fits into a larger diplomatic conversation about representation. India has long sought permanent membership of the Security Council. It argues that its population, economy, international role and contribution to UN peacekeeping justify a greater role in global decision-making. Palestine’s explicit support for this position gives India another voice from the Global South backing its case.
At the same time, the relationship cannot be understood solely through the lens of UNSC politics. India’s recent engagement with Palestine has got a substantial developmental dimension. During the Palestine Donor Group meeting in Brussels, India committed to establishing a speciality hospital, an artificial-limb fitment centre and a vocational-training institute for Palestinians. Jaishankar announced these initiatives while launching India’s UNSC campaign.
These projects are particularly relevant because of the enormous pressure on Palestinian public infrastructure. The proposed hospital is intended to strengthen healthcare capacity, while the artificial-limb centre addresses the long-term rehabilitation needs of people who have suffered amputations during the conflict.
On the other hand, the vocational institute connects humanitarian assistance with economic recovery by focusing on skills and employment.
The Palestinian Embassy has welcomed all three initiatives by describing them as important for healthcare, rehabilitation and rebuilding Palestinian communities.
This is where India’s approach towards Palestine becomes noteworthy. Humanitarian assistance is often treated as emergency relief but India’s recent commitments indicate a broader conception of assistance that includes rebuilding institutions and developing human capacity. Such projects can have consequences beyond immediate humanitarian relief because they create durable forms of cooperation between societies.
The proposed hospital also has a longer history. According to Ambassador Abu Shawesh, it follows through on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2017 commitment to establish a hospital in the Palestinian territories with implementation now moving towards the final stage in Jenin in the West Bank. The ambassador has also highlighted India’s contribution to Palestinian humanitarian assistance. This includes its recent $5 million pledge to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The political dimension of India’s Palestine policy remains equally important. New Delhi has reiterated its support for a negotiated two-state solution and for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations. The Palestinian Embassy welcomed these positions alongside India’s new development commitments.
For Palestine, India’s diplomatic position matters because New Delhi maintains relationships with a wide range of actors in West Asia including Israel and the Arab states. India has consequently attempted to maintain a position that combines its strategic partnership with Israel with continued support for Palestinian statehood and a two-state settlement. This gives India a potentially useful diplomatic position, particularly when communication between competing sides becomes difficult.
For New Delhi, Palestinian support also carries significance beyond the bilateral relationship. India’s UNSC campaign is partly an effort to demonstrate that it can act as a bridge between developed and developing countries and represent the concerns of the Global South. Support from Palestine reinforces that narrative. It demonstrates that India’s diplomatic outreach is not confined to major powers but also resonates with countries facing conflict and questions of international representation.
Yet the endorsement should not be interpreted as a guarantee of India’s success. Election to a non-permanent UNSC seat depends on securing the required support within the UN General Assembly.
Diplomatic endorsements contribute to India’s political momentum, but they are only one part of a much broader campaign.
More importantly, Palestine’s backing highlights a changing dimension of India-Palestine relations. The relationship is increasingly being expressed not only through India’s traditional political support for Palestinian aspirations but also through practical cooperation in healthcare and other areas.
The development projects announced by India carry significance beyond their immediate humanitarian purpose. They represent an attempt to turn diplomatic goodwill into tangible assistance while simultaneously strengthening India’s credentials as a responsible actor in the Global South.
Palestine’s support for India’s UNSC bid consequently reflects a convergence of interests.
Palestine sees India as a country deserving a larger role globally. India continues to position itself as a supporter of Palestinian statehood, humanitarian needs and multilateral reform.
In an international order where representation and legitimacy are contested, this convergence could give India-Palestine relations a significance that extends well beyond the Security Council election itself.
