New Delhi

Palestine has asked India to set up the promised the artificial limbs fitment center In Gaza, where more than 5000 amputates are in desperate need of artificial limbs after the recent war.

This was conveyed by Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, Palestinian Ambassador to India, while he announced the two countries have finalised the plan for the construction of a specialty hospital in the West Bank of Palestine.

In an interview with ANI news agency, the Ambassador said, "Regarding the hospital (going to be built with India's assistance in Palestine), yesterday, India and Palestine finalised the paperwork.

Probably, Palestine fears that India may prefer to set up the promised artificial limb center in the West Bank which is relatively peaceful to work and has hence emphasized its localion.

“India's position is very clear in this regard. They are well-equipped to implement this project. But it should be in Gaza because the needs are there, and there is a very pressing issue, so that this project cannot be implemented in the West Bank.”

#WATCH | Delhi: Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, Palestinian Ambassador to India, says, "...I am not revealing a secret, but we are with India to have a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Not only this, when it came to the upcoming election for the non-permanent seats, despite… pic.twitter.com/86MEVlhkX3

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2026

“It should be implemented where the need itself... I hope that in the day after the war, India will be with us; I am pretty sure India will be with us in Gaza." He said.

Ambassador Shawesh said he had discussed the issue of the location of the artificial limbs fitment center with the government of India through India's Minister of Foreign Affairs. “I hope that very soon we will be able to do something very significant.”

Ambassador Shawesh said while Delhi is in the process of supplying mmedicines, the Indian private sector had already sent some very good machines, medicine, and medical supplies. “And part of it, I can assure you, part of these medicines saved one of our children in the West Bank just a few days ago.”

The Ambassador said, "...I have reached out to the government and to the people of India. The GOI, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, promised to do something. I do not have all the details, but I am pretty sure that the medicine and medical equipment are on their way, or they will be on their way to Palestine. It is just a logistical issue, not more than that. We are still discussing with the government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for more support for this.

India has announced at the Palestine donor group meeting in Brussels in July its plans to establish a speciality hospital, an artificial limb fitment centre and a vocational training institute in Palestine. Besides, New Delhi also promised to construct the Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy.

#WATCH | Delhi: On elections in Palestine, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, Palestinian Ambassador to India, says, "We hope that it will happen. Already, our President Mahmoud Abbas has been in office since 2021. But unfortunately, the Israeli refusal stands very strong to let us… pic.twitter.com/uWgGnnEA7W

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2026

India remains firmly committed to improving the daily lives of Palestinians through development assistance worth nearly USD 175 million. The assistance includes development projects, humanitarian aid and contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Ambassador of Palestine also said that his country is firmly in support of India becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He said in the upcoming election for the non-permanent seats at the UNSC, he hopes that India will be among the upcoming leaders. “Another one of our friends will be there, so that we will secure another voice line with us there," Shawesh said, clarifying that Palestine does not have voting rights in the UNSC.

A senior diplomat, Sripriya Ranganathan, is on an important visit to Palestine and neighbouring Lebanon and Egypt. Commenting on her visit, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh said that the visit was “very significant for both of us because it came at a critical time when the Palestinians are enduring a devastating situation, the health sector and education system are on the brink of collapse... India is one of the countries that we reach out to for help in this particular situation.”

Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan with Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin.

"India also promised to establish a vocational training centre in Palestine... We, the Palestinians, have a lot of relative advantages... We are educated people, with a 97.3% literacy rate... In the agricultural sector, we can do something very significant. We have the Jaffa trademark... We are experts in planting palm trees and olive trees. In modern agriculture, meaning greenhouse agriculture, we are well-versed in this regard. I hope that we will do something. We can transfer this technology to India if we have the opportunity to do so."

On elections in Palestine, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh said, "We hope that it will happen. Already, our President Mahmoud Abbas has been in office since 2021. But unfortunately, the Israeli refusal stands very strong to let us implement this election in the occupied West Bank. In 2006 and 1994, when we had the election... also in the occupied West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. But the Israelis, four years ago, stood strong and did not  allow us.

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“We hope that this time, with some pressure from the international community, we will be able to convene this election. In Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, we have already started registering our people for the upcoming election. Many Palestinian people and political leaders are even talking about creating their own coalition and competing in the upcoming election. I hope that before the end of this year, we will be able, as Palestinians, to start to implement our election."