Citizens from all walks of life gather in Freedom Park to denounce Israel’s war crimes, call for a ceasefire, and urge the Indian government to end diplomatic ties with Israel
NEW DELHI/BENGALURU – The Freedom Park in Karnataka’s capital city of Bengaluru turned into a sea of Palestinian flags and protest placards on Sunday as hundreds of people, including students, workers, activists and religious leaders, came together to voice strong opposition to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The massive protest, organised by various left-wing socio-political groups, saw passionate calls for justice, an immediate ceasefire, and an end to Indian diplomatic relations with Israel.
The protest was part of global demonstrations sparked by the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, which have killed thousands of civilians, including women and children. Protesters shouted slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Down with Zionist terror,” demanding that the world stop turning a blind eye to the ongoing bloodshed.
“This is not war, it is genocide,” said Ashfaq, one of the protesters, standing with a poster that read “Stop Bombing Gaza.”
“Starving civilians, cutting off food and medicine, bombing hospitals and shelters – what do you call this if not a war against humanity? We must speak now, or tomorrow it could be us,” he warned.
One of the key speakers, a young activist named Hanumesh, made a fiery speech calling for unity among oppressed people worldwide. “Workers, farmers, youth – all of us must unite against these imperialist powers,” he said.
“From Gaza to Ukraine, the same forces are spreading destruction. In the United States, even common citizens have stood up against their government’s war policies. We must do the same here in India.”
Quoting past protests in the West, he reminded the crowd:
“In the US, they said, ‘Not in our name.’ That spirit must be spread here, too. Only a mass people’s movement can bring real change.”
Religious scholar and speaker Maulana Asif Khan Madani strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on both Palestine and Iran, calling them “acts of terrorism against humanity.”
Addressing the crowd, he said, “The myth that Israel is unbeatable has been shattered. Iran’s retaliation destroyed parts of Tel Aviv and crippled Israel’s Iron Dome system. This is why the US has pushed for a ceasefire.”
Maulana Asif urged the Indian government to immediately cut all ties with Israel, both diplomatic and economic.
“How can we, as a country that claims to follow non-violence and Mahatma Gandhi’s path, stand by a regime that bombs hospitals and starves children?” he asked.
Another speaker, Erturka, accused the Israeli government and its Western backers of committing war crimes in Gaza.
“Not just Netanyahu, but the entire Israeli state has committed crimes against international law and the Geneva Convention,” he said. “They’ve bombed schools, hospitals, and even shelters. The silence of the so-called civilised world is shameful.”
He added, “Iran’s response has shown that neither Israel nor the US is invincible. It is time people around the world rise up and say ‘Enough.’”
The crowd was a mix of age groups and backgrounds. College students stood side by side with elderly men and women, many wearing keffiyehs and holding candles. The diversity of the participants reflected the wide support the Palestinian cause has gained among the Indian public, especially among the Muslim community.
Shabana Begum, a schoolteacher who came with her two children, said, “As a mother, I cannot stay quiet when I see children in Gaza being buried every day. This is not just about Muslims. This is about standing for humanity.”
As the demonstration drew to a close, protest leaders made a joint appeal to the Indian government. They demanded immediate suspension of all diplomatic relations with Israel, ban on Israeli products and technology, strong public condemnation of Israeli war crimes, and support for an independent Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.
One protester, Mohammed Irfan, said, “India must stop supporting Israel, directly or indirectly. Our silence makes us part of the crime. It’s time to stand on the right side of history.”
The protest also exposed growing anger among Indian Muslims over the government’s silence on the issue. Many participants questioned why India, once a supporter of the Palestinian cause, has grown closer to Israel in recent years.
Sanaullah, a law student, said, “We are ashamed of the way our leaders behave. Why hasn’t our prime minister said a word about this genocide?
Several participants also expressed disappointment with the Indian media for downplaying the scale of Israeli violence and not giving enough space to the voices of resistance.
The Bengaluru protest was one of the largest in India in recent months and added to the growing global outrage against Israel’s assault on Gaza. From London to New York, Paris to Jakarta, people are marching to demand justice for Palestinians and to stop the war.
A local organiser of the protest, Jameela Banu, said, “This is not just a Muslim issue. People of all faiths and backgrounds must raise their voices. Silence helps the oppressor, not the victim.”
She added, “This is not about politics. This is about basic humanity. What kind of world are we living in if we let children be bombed and call it self-defence?”
As the sun set over Freedom Park, the protesters lit candles and observed a minute of silence for the people of Gaza. The atmosphere was filled with grief, anger and determination.
In the words of Ashfaq, “If we don’t stand up today, tomorrow there will be no one left to speak for us.”
The message from Bengaluru was clear: Indian Muslims are watching, speaking, and standing up for their Palestinian brothers and sisters. And they are asking the government — and the world — to finally listen.
