Brussels, July 14: India has reaffirmed its continued support for a two-state solution, as well as for Palestine’s membership of the United Nations (UN), at the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Palestine Donor Group (PDG) in Brussels.

Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (CPV & OIA), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), represented India during the meeting, which was jointly organised by the European Commission and the Palestine Authority on Monday (local time). The meeting also saw participation from European Union Member States, Palestine and other key international partners and financial institutions.

“At the meeting, the Secretary emphasised that India has been a long-standing partner of the Palestinian people, and reaffirmed India’s continued support to a two-state solution, as well as to Palestine’s membership of the UN. She underlined India’s ongoing developmental assistance, including capacity building programmes and humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine, noting that India’s projects are demand-driven and largely centred on healthcare, education, capacity building, and vocational training,” stated the MEA.

While stating that India is currently engaged in major projects in healthcare, women’s empowerment and institution building in Palestine, she announced several new projects focused on rehabilitation, health, education and vocational training.

While in Brussels, the Secretary also attended a meeting hosted by the incoming Chair of the Advisory Commission of UNRWA, wherein she highlighted India’s continued support to the Agency and its efforts in Palestine.

“India remains a dedicated partner that contributes tangibly towards meeting the humanitarian needs of the people of Palestine,” stated the MEA.

Last month, Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, expressed confidence that India is a strong supporter of the two-state solution.

In an interview with media, Abdullah Abu Shawesh said, “We strongly believe that India stands strong to support the two-state solution. India used to support the Palestinian people when it came to the United Nations resolutions, voting in favour of the resolutions and even on the ground, India is heavily invested in the peace process and has implemented a lot of projects on the ground in Palestine. One very important issue: we are very close to starting a new project, or India is starting to implement a very important project, which is building a hospital in Palestine, particularly in the West Bank.”

Tehran, July 13: Iran has condemned the statement by the United Nations on the military escalations in the region, framing recent Iranian strikes on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait as lawful self-defence rather than aggression, citing US-Israel attacks starting February 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Tehran accused the US of using Gulf states’ territories as launchpads, asking the UN to urge those countries to halt support and hold aggressors accountable under international law.

Iranian Foreign Minister Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also insisted on using the term “Persian Gulf” per longstanding UN directives from 1994 and 1999.

In a post on X, Baqaei said, “This is not a ‘military confrontation’. It is the continuation of a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression initiated on 28 February by the United States and Israel. Iran does not ‘attack’. Iran’s strikes on US military bases and assets stationed in the southern Persian Gulf constitute a legitimate and lawful exercise of its inherent right to self-defence under international law.”

“You should urge the countries in question to immediately cease allowing the United States to use their territories as launchpads for aggression against Iran. It is far from responsible to blame Iran for defending its sovereignty while failing to hold the aggressors accountable for their egregious violation of international law,” he said.

Citing the UN directives of 1994 and 1999, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, “BTW, it is ‘Persian Gulf’; please be loyal to the UN directives (notably on 18 August 1994, and 14 May 1999) mandating the use of the full term ‘Persian Gulf’ in all UN texts.”

This came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalation and renewed military confrontations in the Gulf region, including the “Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the attacks by the United States on Iran, and the attacks by Iran on targets in the neighbouring countries”.

The UN chief “calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid further escalatory action and take immediate steps to de-escalate,” his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said in a statement.

“These attacks must all stop,” the statement said, adding, “The Secretary-General urges Iran and the United States to urgently resume negotiations and to address outstanding issues through diplomacy.”

Hanoi, July 13: The mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who died in the tragic boat accident in Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island will be transported to India from Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, said the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.

As many as 15 people, including 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, were killed after a tourist boat carrying Indian visitors capsized off Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, turning what was intended to be a reward trip into a devastating accident.

The Vietnam Airlines flight VN979 is scheduled to leave Ho Chi Minh City at 6:00 p.m. local time and reach Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) at 9:35 p.m. (Indian time).

In a statement on X, the Indian Embassy said, “The mortal remains of the 15 Indian nationals who tragically lost their lives in the 11 July boat accident will be repatriated from Ho Chi Minh City to India today via Vietnam Airlines flight VN979. The flight is scheduled to depart Ho Chi Minh City at 1800 hrs local time and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai at 2135 hrs IST.”

“The respective state governments have been informed and have been requested to kindly coordinate with the affected families for the onward journey of the mortal remains to their final destinations. The Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City pray for the family members of the deceased. We are available for any assistance,” it added.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese police in southern An Giang province on Sunday detained and initiated criminal proceedings against a local man over alleged legal violations linked to the tourist boat that capsized.

The detainee was identified as 57-year-old captain Nguyen Hong Hai, a resident of Thuan Tien hamlet in Son Kien commune, An Giang province, who was temporarily residing in the Phu Quoc special zone.

According to preliminary reports, the boat was carrying around 32 Indian tourists, including 17 from Tamil Nadu, while the remaining passengers were from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala.

The vessel reportedly overturned while cruising in waters south of Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination in southern Vietnam.

Soon after the incident, rescue teams, local residents, and emergency personnel rushed to the scene and launched a large-scale rescue operation.

Several passengers were pulled from the water, while rescuers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to those found unconscious in an attempt to save their lives.

Despite the swift emergency response, authorities confirmed that 15 people lost their lives in the accident, while the survivors were rescued and provided medical assistance.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially disclosed.