Indians for Palestine unanimously called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and rallied for collective solidarity across Asia to support the Palestinians.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Indian government was on Friday urged to publicly endorse the recent ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel and to desist from showing any complicity with the Jewish state.
This came during a public meeting, organised by Indians for Palestine, a coalition of concerned citizens. The meeting also unanimously called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and rallied for collective solidarity across Asia to support the Palestinians.
The gathering, attended by leaders from various sectors including politics, media, legal, and diplomatic communities, emphasised the importance of understanding the implications of the ICJ ruling and extending solidarity with the Palestinians.
Senior figures such as lawyer Anand Grover, former ambassador K.P. Fabian, journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, and political leaders Dipankar Bhattacharya, Asaduddin Owaisi, Amarjeet Kaur, and Subhashini Ali addressed the packed hall, highlighting the urgency of the situation in Gaza.
The session commenced with introductory remarks by moderators Jean Drèze and Ayesha Kidwai, followed by a recording from Arwa Abu Hashhash, a Gazan citizen, expressing the horrors of the ongoing crisis.
Palestinian Ambassador Adnan Abu Al-Haija stressed the implications of the lack of implementation of UN resolutions and acknowledged receiving solidarity from various countries.
The meeting drew attention to the alarming death toll in Gaza which surpassed that of any other major conflict in the 21st century.
Anand Grover lamented the absence of courage among nations, citing South Africa’s stance as a beacon of hope. K.P. Fabian emphasised the need to stand for justice, while Siddharth Varadarajan criticised the complicity of the Indian government with Israel.
Congress leader Salman Khurshid echoed the call for immediate action, while Amarjeet Kaur and Subhashini Ali underscored the importance of standing against imperialism and supporting Palestine’s struggle for democracy.
A resolution passed unanimously urged the Indian government to endorse the ICJ ruling and condemn human rights violations by Israel. It called for immediate solidarity with Palestine and highlighted recent initiatives such as the refusal of Indian dock workers to handle weaponised cargo destined for Israel.