Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a strong attack on Israel, accusing it of committing genocide against the people of Palestine.
In a post on X, she claimed that over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the latest phase of the conflict began, including 18,430 children. She alleged that Israel has also resorted to starvation as a weapon of war, leading to the deaths of hundreds, many of them children, and warned that millions more are under threat of being starved.
Gandhi Vadra also criticised the global community for remaining silent on what she called “crimes against humanity.” She wrote, “Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself,” before taking aim at the Indian government. She accused New Delhi of moral failure, saying, “It is shameful that the Indian Government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine.”
Israeli Ambassador Rejects Allegations
Her remarks prompted a strong response from Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar. In a direct rebuttal on X, Azar accused Gandhi Vadra of spreading “deceit” and misrepresenting the facts. “What is shameful is your deceit,” he wrote, adding that Israel had killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists during the military campaign.
Azar argued that the heavy civilian toll is the result of Hamas’s military tactics, which, according to him, include hiding behind civilians, firing rockets from residential areas, and shooting people who try to evacuate or receive humanitarian assistance. He maintained that Israel’s military operations are targeted at dismantling Hamas, not at harming civilians.
Humanitarian Aid and Population Growth Argument
Addressing accusations of deliberately causing starvation, Azar said Israel had facilitated the entry of two million tonnes of food into Gaza during the conflict. He alleged that Hamas has been intercepting and hoarding much of the aid to control distribution, thereby manufacturing food shortages and suffering among the civilian population.
To counter claims of genocide, Azar pointed to demographic data, stating that Gaza’s population has increased by 450% over the last 50 years—a trend he argued is inconsistent with allegations of systematic extermination. He concluded his statement with a warning to the international community: “Don’t buy Hamas numbers.”
Priyanka Gandhi Condemns Journalist Killings
In a separate post, Gandhi Vadra reacted to the deaths of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, calling their killing a “heinous crime” and an attempt by Israel to silence truth and independent reporting. “The cold-blooded murder of five Al Jazeera journalists is yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil,” she wrote, praising the journalists for their “immeasurable courage” in standing up for truth despite risks to their lives.
She warned that violence and hatred cannot destroy the spirit of real journalism, adding, “In a world where much of the media is enslaved to power and commerce, these brave souls reminded us of what true journalism is. May they rest in peace.”
Escalating Conflict Draws Global Concern
This sharp exchange between Gandhi Vadra and the Israeli envoy comes at a time when the Gaza conflict has entered one of its deadliest phases. Civilian casualties are mounting, and humanitarian conditions are worsening, with shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. International agencies and human rights groups continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, but diplomatic positions remain deeply polarised.
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