OPPN leaders met Palestinian envoy in Delhi; condemns the Israeli attack on Gaza

The leaders held a meeting with Palestinian envoy Adnan Abu Al-Haija, who expressed hope that India, as a friend of both Israel and Palestine, would use its influence to urge Tel Aviv to end the ‘blockade’ and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories. the people of Gaza, as reported by PTI.

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In a statement signed by 15 opposition leaders, some of whom met the envoy here at the embassy, ​​they strongly condemned Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” of Palestinians in Gaza, saying it amounts to an attempt at “genocide.”

“We urge an immediate cessation of all hostilities to prevent further loss of innocent lives and destruction of homes and infrastructure,” the leaders said.

“We urge the international community to recognize the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, in accordance with the UN resolution,” the opposition leaders said.

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Speak with PTI after the meeting, the Palestinian envoy said the Indian government would play a “good role” as a mediator for both sides.

“India is a friend of both sides. Hopefully they will put pressure on the Israeli government to stop the killing of Palestinian civilians, to break that siege and allow humanitarian aid in the form of water, food, fuel, medicine and electricity to 2.2 million people. people,” Al-Haija said.

Tyagi stated that the meeting with the Palestinian envoy was a collective decision made by leaders who share similar views. “By cutting off water and power to the Gaza Strip, Israel is forcing them to die,” he said.

In their statement, the opposition leaders said they strongly believe in Mahatma Gandhi’s statement that Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English and France belongs to the French.

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Opposition leaders said they believe violence is never a solution because it leads to a cycle of destruction and suffering.

“We therefore emphasize the need for greater efforts by the international community to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The international community must put pressure on the State of Israel to comply with international laws and respect the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people,” the statement said.

“We call for intensified diplomatic efforts and multilateral initiatives to ensure lasting peace in the region,” the opposition leaders said.

The leaders expressed deep concern about the “ongoing crisis in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinian people.” They also called for urgent and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

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The dire humanitarian situation requires immediate attention and action, opposition leaders said, adding that all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that essential supplies, including food, water and medical aid, reach affected populations unhindered.

Besides BSP’s Ali, Congress’s Aiyar and JD(U’s) Tyagi, CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI D Raja, Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan and RLD’s Shahid Siddiqui were among the leaders who opened the embassy visited.

Meanwhile, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the country’s support to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza, an Israeli minister thanked Indian leaders and citizens for supporting their fight against the “jihadist barbarian Islamist”.

On October 7, Israel declared war on Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, in response to attacks by Hamas fighters on several settlements and military posts in southern Israel.

The Hamas attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, including both soldiers and civilians. In retaliation, the Israeli army (IDF) launched an offensive, causing an estimated 2,300 casualties, including more than 1,400 civilians, according to United Nations figures.

(With input from agencies)

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Updated: Oct 17, 2023 1:02 PM IST