Post by : Rameen Ariff

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has strongly criticized the Modi government for its silence on the Israel-Palestine conflict. She said India must show leadership on the issue of Palestine, highlighting that the government’s response has been marked by “profound silence” and a lack of both humanity and morality. Gandhi pointed out that the government’s actions appear influenced by the personal friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than India’s constitutional values or strategic interests.

In her article titled “India’s muted voice, its detachment with Palestine”, Gandhi stated that India’s foreign policy should not be guided by personalized diplomacy. She stressed that India has a historical legacy of standing for justice and human rights, citing its support for Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1988, its opposition to Apartheid in South Africa, advocacy for Algerian independence, and intervention to prevent genocide in East Pakistan in 1971.

Gandhi highlighted that more than 150 of the 193 United Nations member countries have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. France recently joined the UK, Canada, Portugal, and Australia in recognizing Palestinian statehood. She emphasized that India must reclaim its role as a leader in the fight for justice, identity, dignity, and human rights for Palestinians.

She criticized India’s current approach, saying that since October 2023, when hostilities between Israel and Palestine escalated, India has largely stepped back from its principled position. Gandhi condemned both the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and Israel’s military response, stating that over 55,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, have been killed. She described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with food, medicine, and essential aid being obstructed, creating famine-like conditions.

Gandhi said the world’s slow response has effectively legitimized Israel’s actions and welcomed the recent recognition of Palestine by multiple countries as a step toward justice. She warned that silence in the face of prolonged injustice is complicity, and India must not remain muted.

She also criticized India for recent actions that appear to favor Israel, including signing a bilateral investment agreement and hosting Israel’s far-right finance minister in New Delhi, who has been condemned for inciting violence against Palestinians. Gandhi argued that India should treat Palestine not only as a foreign policy issue but as a test of its ethical and civilizational heritage.

Gandhi concluded that the world owes Palestine historical empathy, and India must translate that empathy into principled action, reflecting its long-standing commitment to freedom, human dignity, and justice.