External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday met Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, and discussed the Gaza peace plan, evolving regional developments and bilateral development cooperation.One of the key takeaways from the meeting was that Shahin flagged the importance the Palestinian side attaches to a possible visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the State of Palestine during his forthcoming regional engagements, requesting that the message be conveyed. Jaishankar, according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, said he would do so.The interaction took place on the margins of the second session of the India-Arab ministerial meeting, being held in New Delhi from January 30 to 31, amid heightened tensions in West Asia.As per the Palestinian Foreign Ministry readout, Shahin briefed Jaishankar on the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need for urgent international action to halt the continuing suffering of the Palestinian people. She emphasised that any pathway related to Gaza must be linked to the New York Declaration to ensure the unity of Palestinian territory and advance a political settlement based on the two-state solution.Shahin expressed appreciation for India’s humanitarian and development assistance, highlighting ongoing joint projects, including the Diplomatic Institute, and other initiatives under consideration, particularly a prosthetics project described as an urgent humanitarian requirement.Jaishankar conveyed India’s concern over the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and affirmed New Delhi’s readiness to contribute to relief and recovery efforts. He also referred to India’s strengths in technology and capacity-building, while noting challenges related to implementation mechanisms in certain projects.Earlier, on the first day of her visit, Shahin met Indian and foreign ambassadors, political leaders, parliamentarians, business representatives and social activists, reiterating that military solutions would not bring peace and calling for a just and comprehensive political settlement rooted in international law.India has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause while maintaining diplomatic engagement with Israel, and has consistently called for dialogue, humanitarian access and a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security.