Opposition Critiques Israeli Ambassador's Response to Priyanka Gandhi's Gaza Comments
Opposition Parties Demand Action Against Israeli Diplomat
On Tuesday, various opposition parties expressed their disapproval of the Israeli ambassador's reaction to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza, calling for accountability for the diplomat's comments.
Vadra took to social media platform X, alleging that Israel had caused the deaths of over 60,000 individuals, including 18,430 children, since the onset of the conflict with Hamas in October 2023.
She stated, "Israel has starved hundreds to death, including many children, and is threatening to starve millions more," highlighting the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Vadra further emphasized that remaining silent and inactive in the face of such atrocities constitutes a crime itself. She criticized the Indian government's silence, stating, "It is shameful that the Indian government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine."
India has historically advocated for a two-state solution, aiming to establish a sovereign and independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
In response, Israeli ambassador Reuven Azar accused Vadra of deceit, asserting that Israel's military actions had resulted in the deaths of 25,000 Hamas members.
Azar claimed that the high civilian casualty rate was due to Hamas' tactics of using civilians as shields and obstructing evacuation efforts. He also mentioned that Israel had facilitated the delivery of two million tonnes of food to Gaza, countering claims of starvation.
He argued that the population of Gaza had increased by 450% over the past five decades, denying any allegations of genocide and urging people not to trust Hamas' figures.
The Congress party condemned the Israeli ambassador's remarks, expressing that they found his response to Vadra's expression of pain and anguish completely unacceptable.
Jairam Ramesh, the party's communication head, criticized the Modi government's lack of moral courage in addressing Israel's actions in Gaza over the past 18-20 months.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her hope that the Ministry of External Affairs would take action against the Israeli ambassador.
Chaturvedi recounted her previous intention to move a privilege motion against the Polish ambassador for a social media post but decided against it after discussions with the external affairs minister.
She remarked, "This emboldens them to speak to Indian parliamentarians in this tone while in our own country, which is unacceptable."
Israel's military operations in Gaza commenced in October 2023 following a deadly incursion by Hamas that resulted in 1,200 deaths in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has conducted extensive air and ground strikes, leading to over 61,000 fatalities.
The blockade on humanitarian aid imposed by Israel has pushed the population of Gaza to the brink of famine, according to United Nations reports.
Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing since July 6, with previous attempts to establish a temporary ceasefire in January failing due to significant disagreements.