Israeli forces gunned down 49 civilians — including 23 children, 13 women, and 13 men in the mass killings in 1956
NEW DELHI – The Embassy of the State of Palestine in India on Wednesday solemnly marked the 69th anniversary of the Kafr Qasim Massacre, describing it as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Palestinian people.
In a statement, the embassy recalled that on October 29, 1956, Israeli forces imposed a sudden curfew on the Palestinian village of Kafr Qasim while many residents were still working in the olive fields. Unaware of the curfew, villagers returning home were stopped, lined up, and shot.
According to the statement, 49 civilians — including 23 children, 13 women, and 13 men — were killed. The embassy said that Israeli authorities initially attempted to conceal the incident, and the subsequent military trial failed to deliver justice.
“The commanding officer was fined only one piaster and later admitted he was following ‘higher orders’ to ‘mow them down,’” the embassy noted.
Describing the massacre as a reminder of the “systematic oppression” faced by Palestinians, the statement linked the tragedy to a broader pattern of violence and displacement that began before the creation of Israel in 1948.
“For decades, Palestinians have been denied the right to tell our own story. The global narrative surrounding our struggle has been distorted to justify occupation and erase our history,” the embassy said.
Drawing a parallel with India’s remembrance of Jallianwala Bagh, the embassy emphasised that remembering Kafr Qasim is “not an act of vengeance but a moral duty to uphold truth and justice.”
On this occasion, the embassy paid tribute to the victims of Kafr Qasim and all Palestinians who have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and dignity.
“The international community must confront historical denial, uphold international law, and ensure accountability for all crimes committed against the Palestinian people,” the statement concluded.
