Israel will take part in international efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.
“One of the countries where the pandemic is spreading in such a cruel and difficult way is our friend India,” he said in a cabinet meeting. “I hope there will be an international effort, in which Israel is prepared to be a full partner, to stop this tragedy.”
Netanyahu sent Israel’s condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India.
“While we are happy here, we still understand that big parts of the world are suffering greatly,” he said. “We are ready to help in any way that is needed.”
Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Foreign Ministry provided further details about the aid.
India did relatively well in the early months of the pandemic, but in recent weeks its morbidity numbers have soared.
On Tuesday, India had more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases for the sixth day in a row, with an overall caseload of 17.64 million. The death toll from COVID-19 in India was 197,894 at last count.
Less than 10% of its population had received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday.
The US, UK, Saudi Arabia, UAE and others have pledged to aid India, especially ventilators and oxygen containers.
Foreign Ministry Deputy Director-General for Asia and the Pacific Gilad Cohen tweeted that the ministry “has been organizing support from government, private sector & Israeli citizens to help our great friend India in struggling with COVID-19. A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Israeli aid organization SmartAID sent hundreds of oxygen concentrators to hospitals in New Delhi this week.
“SmartAID jumped into action as soon as we heard of the unfolding crisis in India,” SmartAID global goodwill ambassador Alethea Gold said. “We have been working tirelessly with our local partners in New Delhi to put together this support package, which is aimed at reducing the escalating number of deaths.”