New Delhi: On Saturday evening, a huge demonstration in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and Gaza was held at the Rajendra Bhavan Auditorium in Delhi. This was one of the largest show of support and sympathy ever witnessed in India for the victims of the 14-month-long genocide in Gaza. The conference was organized by the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat (AIMMM) and was addressed by prominent human rights activists from across the country. Nepal’s former Deputy Prime Minister, Upendra Yadav, presided over the conference, while renowned journalist Suhail Anjum moderated the event.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, President of the AIMMM and the former head of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said, “Today, we have gathered here not just on humanitarian grounds to support the oppressed Palestinians, but also because of India’s historic ties with Palestine, which date back to the 13th century when Baba Farid meditated and stayed in Jerusalem for several years. Later, in the 15th century, Baba Guru Nanak also spent time there in meditation. To commemorate this bond, the Indian Hospice still exists in Jerusalem, supported by Indian endowments in Jerusalem and Gaza.”
Dr. Khan further highlighted India’s strong historical support for the Palestinian cause, recalling how, in the early 20th century, Indians backed the Palestinian struggle so significantly that Palestinian leaders gave the honour of burying Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar in Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after his death in London in January 1931. Dr Khan noted that India had refused to officially recognize Israel until 1992 and that during Indira Gandhi’s tenure, India recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization and allowed it to open an office in the country. After the Oslo Accords in 1992, India formally recognized Palestine and permitted it to establish an embassy in India.
Dr. Khan acknowledged that while official Indian support for Palestine has waned over the past decade, public and particularly Muslim support in India remains strong. “We continue to stand with Palestine and its oppressed people and against Israeli aggression,” he said.
Dr. Khan briefly shed light on the history of Palestine and explained how Britain facilitated the settlement of Jews from around the world in Palestine. They were allowed to establish private armies, and ultimately, the United Nations granted them 56% of the Palestinian territory. During the 1948 civil war, Jews captured 78% of Palestine, and in 1967, they seized even the remaining 22%.
Under the Oslo Accords, Palestinians agreed to establish their government on only 22% of the land of Palestine, but Israel was not willing to implement even this agreement. This led to ongoing resistance against the occupation in Palestine, culminating in Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack is rooted in a long history of Israeli oppression and brutal occupation. Palestinian resistance is backed by international law, which grants occupied people the right to resist while prohibiting occupying forces from committing atrocities.
Despite this, Israel has crossed all limits of oppression, turning Gaza into rubble, killing and injuring over 150,000 people—70% of whom are women and children. It has destroyed 800 mosques, dozens of churches, all hospitals, hundreds of schools, and all the 11 universities in Gaza. Israel has also blocked food, water, electricity, and medical supplies from reaching Gaza, artificially creating conditions of famine and the spread of various diseases.
As a result, most countries and nations around the world stand against Israel today. Dozens of nations have severed diplomatic ties or recalled their ambassadors from Israel, and many countries have recognized Palestine as an independent state. More than a dozen nations have filed genocide cases against Israel in the International Court. Furthermore, international arrest warrants have been issued against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Gallant. However, due to the blind support of the United States and several Western countries, Israel continues its war crimes.
Despite this, the majority of the world today stands in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. In India, we too stand with the oppressed and strongly condemn Israel’s actions, said Dr Khan.
Professor Achin Vanaik, an expert in political science and international relations, stated that Israel holds the unique distinction of being involved in the longest illegal military occupation in modern history. He pointed out that while Israel claims to be a democratic country, its democracy is exclusively for Jews. He further noted that Israel is the only country in the world that has not yet submitted its map to the United Nations. A while ago, Netanyahu presented a map of Israel at the United Nations General Assembly that included a large part of the Middle East.
Israel has constructed the world’s largest wall after the Great Wall of China. This 700-kilometer-long wall separates Israel from the occupied West Bank. While most countries have armies, Israel is a country of the army, with all Israeli men and women spending time in military service. The Israeli military is capable of defeating the armies of all Arab countries combined, yet it portrays itself as a victim.
Professor Vanaik further elaborated that Israel is the only country in the world that does not belong to its citizens but to Jews worldwide. At the same time, Arab citizens living within Israel are deprived of their basic rights. He explained that history reflects three models of colonialism. The first, seen in places like the United States and Australia, involved the complete annihilation of the indigenous population. The second, like in South Africa, saw a foreign minority lording over a majority for an extended period, ultimately leading to the downfall of such regimes and allowing the majority to govern. The third model is Israel’s, which seeks to maintain perpetual dominance over non-Jews within the country without granting them rights.
In Gaza, over the past 14 months, so many Palestinians have been killed and injured that, proportionally, it would equate to 70 million people dying or being wounded in India. He emphasized that under international law, an occupying power has no rights, while the occupied people have the right to resist in order to achieve their freedom. Israel aims to replicate in the West Bank what it has done in Gaza, primarily to exploit the oil and natural gas reserves in Gaza’s coastal areas.
He noted that today the world stands in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza, while support for Israel is dwindling. Palestinians are a brave nation but have lacked competent leadership. By signing the Oslo Accords, the Fateh organization essentially became a subcontractor for Israel. He said that the resolution to the Palestinian issue would either involve the emergence of a single state where all citizens will have equal rights or two fully sovereign states living side by side. Drawing a parallel, he remarked that just as Hindutva is a problem in India, Zionism is a problem in Israel.
Professor Vanaik expressed regret that despite the atrocities in Gaza, oil-rich Arab countries did not even threaten to cut off oil supplies or terminate the Abraham Accords. In his closing remarks, he stressed the need to delegitimize Israel’s existence as a legitimate state.
The Spokesperson of the Muslim Personal Law Board, Dr. Qasim Rasool Ilyas, addressing the conference, said that no one in the history of the world has violated human rights more than Israel. With the support and conspiracies of Western countries, Israel has today confined Palestinians in two open-air prisons, with no connection between them. People condemn Palestinians alongside Israel, but they forget the events that have been taking place in Palestine since 1948. If October 7 had not happened, Saudi Arabia would have already recognized Israel. The Oslo Accords have now been forgotten. This is a one-sided war, with one party continuously bombing the other.
During this war, India has not only sent workers but also weapons to Israel. Our Prime Minister is deeply concerned about a ceasefire in Ukraine but he says nothing about Palestine. Protests against Israeli oppression are happening in different countries, but in India, protests are not allowed. This is the first conference in India where we are openly discussing this issue. Despite all the oppression in Gaza and the West Bank, Israel has not yet managed to free its hostages, and Hamas has not admitted defeat. There is no nation in the world as courageous as the Palestinians. People are dying, homes are being destroyed, but the Palestinian people are not giving up. We salute them, said Dr Ilyas.
Not only in Gaza, but Israel has also assassinated Hamas leaders even in Iran. Meanwhile, the Arabs have done nothing except lip service. If today the Arab countries and the United States wanted, this war could be stopped. Israel, in reality, wants to devour the entire region. Due to the arms race, human lives have no value in the eyes of powerful nations. Our country, which has always spoken of non-violence, should take a clear stance on this issue.
Socialist leader Professor Sandeep Pandey said that if any other country were in Israel’s place today, the whole world would have stood against it. He demanded that Israel’s United Nations membership be revoked. He recalled visiting Gaza with a delegation in 2010-2011, where they met Ismail Haniyeh. He remarked that they never saw braver people than those in Gaza. At that time, Israel’s siege of Gaza was ongoing, yet no one complained. He noted the unique slogans written on the walls of Gaza and observed how close relatives of leaders had been martyred, with photos of the martyrs displayed in their homes.
He suggested that Israel likely did not anticipate this war would last so long. He also highlighted that in 1960, Jawaharlal Nehru visited refugee camps in Gaza, and this is why people still remember him fondly. Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal told the Indian delegation visiting Gaza that taking up arms was a compulsion for them and he credited Gandhi for teaching them how to endure oppression.
Professor Pandey added that Hamas won the 2006 elections. Organizations that win elections and form governments are not labeled as terrorists. Both Hamas and Hezbollah participate in elections. He pointed out the disparity in concerns: while Israel raises issues about its hostages, there are seven thousand Palestinians in Israeli prisons compared to a few hundred Israelis in Hamas’s custody.
He further stated that in 1947, England made two significant mistakes: the partition of India and creating conditions leading to the partition of Palestine. The consequences of these errors are still being endured by the people of India, Pakistan, Palestine, and Israel. He suggested that, just as Israel and South Africa were previously boycotted, a similar approach should now be adopted towards Israel to dismantle the Zionist system. He questioned, “Why should Palestinians pay the price for Nazi Germany’s crimes?”
General Secretary of the Samajwadi Party and farmer leader Dr. Sunilam said that his organization, “India Palestine Solidarity Forum,” has organized events in support of Palestine across the country and even in Nepal. A larger programme was held in Nepal than in India. He mentioned that one of the leaders of their organization is currently participating in a conference in Venezuela in support of Palestine. He emphasized that Venezuela is not a Muslim country, nor is South Africa, highlighting that it is incorrect to perceive Palestine as a Muslim issue. It is a concern for all of humanity.
He stated that Netanyahu is an even greater oppressor than Hitler. The way he is selectively killing people and attacking hospitals and schools is unprecedented, even beyond what Hitler did. He mentioned that an international warrant has now been issued against Netanyahu, and millions of people around the world are protesting against this oppression. Dr Sunilam remarked that its agreement with Hezbollah signifies a major defeat for Israel, indicating that Israel lacks the strength to fight. Currently, 146 member countries of the United Nations are supporting Palestine. He further shared that a large protest is going on in Bangalore in south India, where people are demonstrating against a factory producing weapons for Israel.
Renowned human rights activist Harsh Mander stated that just as people once stood for Vietnam, today we are standing for Palestine. Governments may side with Israel, but the people of the world today stand with Palestine. The atrocities committed by Hitler against Jews were not only the actions of a government but also involved ordinary citizens. After those events, the world declared, “Never Again.” However, the truth is that the same kind of actions are being carried out by Israel against Palestinians today. The question arises: Was that declaration only for certain people, or did it mean to ensure that no human would ever face such treatment again? Then why is it happening today? We are not against the people of Israel but against its government.
Mander said, a judge at the International Court remarked: “Israel first occupied others’ land, then it became a racist power, and now it has turned into a genocidal force.” While voices against Israeli genocide are being raised worldwide, there is hardly any significant outcry in India. Instead, some people are even supporting Israel. Today, we must once again say: “Never Again” — this will not happen again, and this decision must be for everyone.
Nepalese politician and former Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, in his presidential address, stated that what is happening in Palestine today surpasses even the atrocities committed by Hitler during World War II. He acknowledged that Hitler carried out a genocide against the Jews, which the world condemned then and continues to remember. Despite his oppression, Hitler did not succeed and ultimately committed suicide.
Yadav drew parallels to Vietnam, a small country that defeated the overwhelming military aggression of the United States. He recounted a journalist’s question to President Nixon: “Why couldn’t a powerful America defeat a weaker Vietnam?” Nixon replied, “It wasn’t a war between the American and Vietnamese armies; it was a war between the American military and the Vietnamese people.” Yadav emphasized that this determination led to Vietnam’s victory.
He asserted that Palestine is weaker than Israel, and even the Arab nations collectively are no match for Israel. However, what Israel is doing amounts to genocide. Despite this, Palestinians continue to resist. Yadav remarked that the suffering Palestinians endure today is far greater than what Jews faced under Hitler. Newborns are being killed, injured individuals lack medical care, and access to water, food, medicine, and electricity has been cut off.
Yadav highlighted that people across many countries are standing against this genocide. While Nepal was the first Asian country to host an Israeli embassy, he noted that the Nepalese people are now overwhelmingly opposed to Israel’s actions. He acknowledged that some governments might support this genocide, but the general public is against it. Palestinians are fighting for their future and will not accept defeat. They will fight until the last person, but their rights must ultimately be recognized. Only after acknowledging these rights can progress be made. He called for an immediate end to this oppression and the recognition of the Palestinian rights. Yadav urged the United Nations to take more active steps and called on the world to unite against this injustice.
At the end of the conference, participants waved the Palestinian flag and pledged to continue the struggle for Palestine’s freedom and the end of Zionism.
