New Delhi:
In a strongly worded article published in Dainik Jagran on July 28, Congress Parliamentary Party leader Sonia Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining a “shameful silence” on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Gandhi urged the Indian government to take a “clear and bold” stance in favour of the Palestinian people, accusing the Modi-led administration of being a “mute spectator” to what she described as a genocide.
Gandhi condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “barbaric” and claimed they amount to a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing. Citing data that more than 55,000 Palestinian civilians, including 17,000 children, have been killed since the beginning of the conflict two years ago, she highlighted the devastating impact on Gaza’s population and infrastructure. “Most residential buildings have been destroyed, and the social fabric of Gaza has been completely shattered,” she wrote.
She cited the West Bank blockade of Gaza by the Israeli Defence Forces that deny people access to food, fuel and medicine as a calculated act of inhumanity and a crime against humanity. According to Gandhi, there has been no adequate reaction on the parts of the world and relevant bodies such as the general assembly of the United Nations and International Court of Justice have not been mobilized. She also commended other countries like South Africa, Brazil and France as being much tougher with their stand, even suing and official recognition of Palestine.
As much as it must be accepted that the attacks of Hamas on Israel and the hostage taking action on October 7, 2023, were unacceptable, Gandhi emphasized that nothing can justify the exorbitant retaliatory actions of Israel on civilians. She also blamed what she called the true intentions of Israel and said that the crisis is being perpetuated by a type of colonial attitude and selfishness of money grabbing real estate developers. Gandhi cited Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump describing how they would like to turn Gaza into a resort-like area as example of these intentions.
With reference to India being an avid supporter of Palestine, Gandhi mentioned the achievements of two Indian Prime ministers, Indira Gandhi in her support of Palestine which led to the PLO in 1974 and India being among the earliest nations to have recognized the State of Palestine in 1988. She has requested Prime Minister Modi to uphold the values written in the Constitution of India and its firm dedication to the principles of simply just out of the world that persevered throughout its decades-long procurement to the greater good.
“India’s abdication of its values is a blot on our national conscience,” she wrote, calling it a “cowardly betrayal” of the ideals India once championed. As the Global South looks to India for leadership, Gandhi insisted that the government must not remain silent in the face of such atrocities.
