Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi has strongly criticised the Modi government for staying silent on Israel’s military actions in Gaza. She said that Israel’s attacks amount to genocide and called the Indian government’s silence a “cowardly betrayal” of the country’s constitutional values.
In an article published in the Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran, Sonia Gandhi wrote that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the suffering of the people in Gaza is “deeply disappointing” and shows “moral cowardice.” She urged him to speak clearly and firmly in support of the values India has always stood for.
She condemned the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, saying no one should defend such violence or the holding of Israeli hostages. However, she said that the Israeli government’s response has gone far beyond self-defence and has become criminal.
“More than 55,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, have been killed. Residential buildings, hospitals and basic infrastructure in Gaza have been destroyed. The social structure of Gaza has been shattered,” she wrote.
She said the Israeli army has blocked the supply of medicines, food, and fuel to Gaza and even fired on civilians who were trying to collect food. She called this a deliberate strategy of forced starvation, which she said is a crime against humanity. “Even the Israeli army has had to admit this horrifying truth,” she added.
Sonia Gandhi said that many experts believe the Israeli military campaign in Gaza is an effort to ethnically cleanse Palestinians. She compared the current situation to the 1948 Naqba, when Palestinians were forced out of their homes. She accused Israel of acting out of a colonial mindset and claimed that some of this violence is being done for the benefit of real estate tycoons.
She criticised the United Nations for failing to stop the attacks and said that the UN Security Council has not imposed any punishment on Israel. She also pointed out that Israel has ignored the International Court of Justice’s order from January 2024 to stop acts of genocide and allow humanitarian aid.
She said that countries like South Africa and Brazil have shown courage by holding Israel accountable. France has recognised Palestine, and Britain and Canada have imposed sanctions on Israeli leaders. Even inside Israel, some voices are now admitting war crimes are being committed.
“In the middle of this humanitarian disaster, it is shameful that India has remained silent,” she wrote. “India was once a leader in global justice, standing against colonialism and apartheid. Today, by staying silent, we are betraying that history.”
She reminded readers that in 1974, under Indira Gandhi’s leadership, India became the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation. In 1988, India also officially recognised the State of Palestine.
Sonia Gandhi said India has always supported a two-state solution, where both Israel and Palestine can exist peacefully. She urged Prime Minister Modi to speak out, saying, “The world is watching, and the Global South is looking to India for leadership. It’s time for India to stand up for justice and peace.”
