The civil society group Bengaluru for Justice and Peace has issued a scathing condemnation of India’s decision to abstain from voting on a resolution for an “immediate, sustainable, and durable humanitarian truce” in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The organization also questioned the state government’s actions, accusing them of stifling voices in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, despite India’s historical support for it.
In an escalating global call for a ceasefire in Gaza, India’s abstention from the UNGA vote has raised concerns, given its long-standing support for the Palestinian people’s rights. Throughout India’s history, from leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh and the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressions of support for the Palestinian cause have been evident. Even Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, stood in solidarity with Palestinian independence. This abstention has prompted Bengaluru for Justice and Peace to question the inconsistency in India’s foreign policy.
The ongoing violence in Gaza is marked by the systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, which includes ground invasions and continuous airstrikes on hospitals, schools, religious institutions, refugee camps, and residential neighborhoods. The West Bank has witnessed the abduction of thousands of Palestinians, as well as atrocities and murders committed by Israeli military forces. Israeli political leaders have made statements that suggest an intention to commit genocide of the Palestinian people.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the current toll stands at 10,022 Palestinians who have lost their lives, including 4,100 children. Additionally, over 2,300 individuals are missing and believed to be buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings. The mass bombardment of Gaza violates the humanitarian laws encoded in the Geneva Conventions, and the recent bombing of the Jabaliya refugee camp underscores the impunity with which Israel has violated the rules of war.
International law classifies genocide as the “crime of crimes,” and the United Nations General Assembly has described it as a denial of the right to existence for entire human groups, which “shocks the conscience of mankind.”
In response to these violations of international law, several countries and human rights groups worldwide have severed diplomatic ties with Israel. Countries such as Honduras, Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Jordan, Chad, South Africa, Bahrain, and Turkey have withdrawn their ambassadors from Israel. Protests in solidarity with the Palestinian people have erupted across the globe, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets to demand an immediate ceasefire.
Of particular concern is India’s abstention in the UNGA Special Session on October 27, 2023, when a resolution calling for “an immediate and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” was presented. Furthermore, protests in support of Palestine have faced obstacles in various states within India, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka.
Bengaluru for Justice and Peace specifically criticized the actions of the Karnataka police, citing their clampdown on protests and attempts to curb public expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The organization also expressed its dismay with the Congress party, stating that while senior leaders have voiced support for Palestine, the Karnataka police have taken action against peaceful protestors in Bengaluru, Mysore, Tumkur, and other locations.
In light of the escalating situation and the possibility of Israel resorting to the use of nuclear weapons, Bengaluru for Justice and Peace emphasized the moral obligation of people worldwide to speak up for the rights of the Palestinian people.
The group demanded that the Central government immediately call for a ceasefire, cease all bombings and army incursions in Palestine, and provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, including food, water, medicine, and fuel. They also requested the Karnataka state government to assure that the police uphold the right to freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, cooperate with protestors to maintain law and order, and withdraw all FIRs registered against protestors exercising their fundamental right to protest.
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