Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday criticised the government over Israel’s war on Gaza – now in its 10th month and in which nearly 40,000 people have been killed – and called on the global community to condemn Tel Aviv’s “genocidal actions and force them to stop”.
“It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking person, including Israeli citizens who do not believe in hatred and violence, and of every government in the world to condemn the Israeli government … Their actions are unacceptable in a world that claims to have civility and morality.”
“It is no longer enough to simply raise our voices for the civilians, mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, aid workers, journalists, teachers, writers, poets, senior citizens and the thousands of innocent children who are perishing day after day in the terrible genocide taking place in Gaza.”
His scathing criticism of the Israeli government – which he called “barbaric” – came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech in the United States on Wednesday.
It is no longer enough to simply raise our voices for the civilians, mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, aid workers, journalists, teachers, writers, poets, senior citizens and the thousands of innocent children who are being killed day after day in the horrific genocide taking place in Gaza…
-Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@PriyankaGandhi) July 26, 2024
“… We are subjected to this image of the Israeli prime minister being given a standing ovation in the US Congress,” he said on X. “He (the Israeli leader) calls it a ‘clash between barbarism and civilization’… He is absolutely right, except that it is he and his government who are the barbarians.”
“…and their barbarism has the full support of most countries in the Western world…”
“It’s really a shame to see this,” the Congress leader said.
Speech by the Prime Minister of Israel in the US
Addressing a US Congress divided over continued US support – including military aid – Mr Netanyahu said nations must unite for the “triumph of civilisation”.
Massive protests erupted in Washington DC hours before his speech
Read | Protest against Netanyahu outside US Capitol, demand for Gaza ceasefire
A crowd carrying Palestinian flags and placards gathered outside the Capitol demanding a ceasefire and the arrest of Mr Netanyahu, while prosecutors seek an international warrant.
Read | Israel launches new raids in Gaza ahead of Netanyahu’s address
Israel has rejected allegations by South Africa at the UN’s top court that its military operation in Gaza amounts to a state-run genocidal campaign against Palestinians. It has expressed outrage over the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s decision to seek a warrant against Mr Netanyahu.
Israel attacks the Gaza Strip
Meanwhile, as these protests were taking place, Israel launched new attacks. Residents reported that the attacks destroyed homes in towns east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza and displaced thousands of people.
Some Palestinians – who gathered at a hospital in Khan Younis ahead of the funerals of their families and loved ones – criticised Israel’s most important international ally, the United States, for welcoming Netanyahu.
A day after his speech, Mr Netanyahu met with Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. Ms Harris’s comments signal a shift in US foreign policy, at least in the final few days of Joe Biden’s administration.
“I will not remain silent”: Kamala Harris
“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating…” she said. “We cannot ignore these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb. I will not be silent.”
Read | After meeting with Netanyahu, Kamala Harris said, “I will not remain silent on Gaza”
“We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not remain silent,” Ms Harris said.
The United States said this week that talks on a ceasefire deal for the hostages were progressing, and that Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu would discuss the deal during Mr. Netanyahu’s visit to the United States.
Read | Gaza ceasefire talks have reached final stage: US
India’s stand on Israel-Gaza war
The Indian government last week reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful settlement and expressed its support for a negotiated ‘two-State solution’ that would lead to “the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable State of Palestine, living in peace with Israel.”
Read | India on humanitarian crisis in Gaza: It is completely unacceptable
The government reacted strongly in May, strongly condemning the civilian deaths and describing the humanitarian crisis in the region as “totally unacceptable”.
Hamas’ 7 October attack
According to Israeli figures, Hamas-led fighters entered southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 prisoner, sparking a war that has left some 40,000 people dead in Gaza, most of them civilians and children, and millions displaced, many more than once.
Hamas and other militants still hold 120 hostages; Israel believes about a third of them are dead. After months of on-and-off talks, no deal has been reached for their release.
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