Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary Sripriya Ranganathan on Thursday, 20 August inaugurated India's 8th Quick Impact Project (QIP) in Palestine at the Jericho Women's Charitable Society School in Ramallah, marking a milestone in the longstanding India-Palestine development partnership. The project upgraded educational facilities and provided computers and essential equipment to create an improved learning environment for Palestinian students.

Key Developments During the Visit

The inauguration was held jointly with Dr. Hussein Hamayel, Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley. The Representative Office of India to the State of Palestine confirmed that the QIP 'translates partnership into tangible benefits for local communities,' according to its official statement.

Earlier on the same day, Secretary Ranganathan visited the Palestine-India Techno Park, welcoming its role as a centre for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement in Palestine. She also paid a floral tribute at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ramallah alongside Mayor Jack Saadeh, honouring Gandhi's legacy of peace, non-violence, and justice.

Flagship Project: Indian Super Speciality Hospital in Jenin

The major outcome of the visit was the ground-breaking of the Indian Super Speciality Hospital in Arrabeh, Jenin — a significant government of India-funded project carried forward pursuant to a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hospital represents one of India's most substantial infrastructure contributions to Palestine to date.

Secretary Ranganathan also called on Majed Abu Ramadan, Health Minister of Palestine, where discussions focused on deepening cooperation in the health sector, including training programmes. She informed the minister of India's decision to organise a prosthetic limb camp in Palestine and announced the donation of a Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) Cube — a mobile health centre — for use in Gaza. The first tranche of life-saving medicines was also handed over during the meeting.

Education and Women's Empowerment Initiatives

In the education sector, cooperation was advanced through the 'School-in-a-Box' initiative, undertaken with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The initiative provides digital educational resources to support modern learning environments in Palestinian schools, with a particular focus on Gaza.

Secretary Ranganathan also visited the India-Palestine Centre for Empowering Women 'Turathi' and the Palestinian Institute of Diplomacy — both government of India-funded ongoing projects — reflecting India's continued support for women's economic empowerment, institutional capacity building, and human resource development.

Palestinian Response and India's Commitment

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.

'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,' the Representative Office of India stated. The visit is expected to further deepen bilateral engagement across health, education, skills development, and community outreach.