Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a sharp attack on the Indian government over its silence on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, accusing Israel of committing genocide and carrying out large-scale atrocities against Palestinians.
In a strong statement, Priyanka said that the Israeli state has “murdered over 60,000 people, including 18,430 children,” starved hundreds to death, and is now threatening to starve millions more. She termed the situation “one of the darkest chapters of human history” and called it “shameful” that the Indian government has chosen to remain silent.
“Silence Is Complicity”
Priyanka Gandhi stressed that not speaking up against such violence is equivalent to enabling it.
“It is shameful that the Indian Government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine. Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself,” she said.
She also condemned the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, describing it as “cold-blooded murder” and “another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil.”
Strong Rebuttal from Israel
Her remarks drew a strong reaction from Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, who rejected the genocide claim outright.
Azar accused Priyanka of “falling for propaganda” and urged her not to trust casualty figures released by Hamas. According to him, Israel has eliminated around 25,000 Hamas fighters and that the militant group uses civilians as human shields, putting them directly in harm’s way.
Political and Diplomatic Tensions
The exchange has sparked fresh political debate in India over the country’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. While the government has maintained a cautious and balanced approach, critics argue that silence in the face of large-scale civilian casualties undermines India’s historic support for Palestine.
Priyanka’s comments are likely to keep the issue alive in political discourse, especially with growing global concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
