Civil society in Bangalore condemns India’s abstention in the UNGA to vote for a truce
Says, K'taka police, govt deliberately curtailed people’s right to freedom of speech, expression
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru for Justice and Peace organization in a release on Tuesday strongly condemned India’s abstention in the UNGA to vote for a truce. “It is condemnable that India decided to abstain from voting in the UNGA for an immediate, sustainable and durable humanitarian truce.”
The civil society organization also questioned the Indian government for stifling voices of solidarity with Palestinians despite India’s historical support for the Palestinian cause.
“ Our Prime Ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru, Manmohan Singh to our current Prime Minister Narendra Modi have spoken in favur of the rights of the Palestinian people. Even the father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi stood in support of the Palestinian independence. In fact on the 19th of October the Ministry of External Affairs released a statement in support of the rights of the Palestinian People,” the release added.
It further pointed out that the Israeli military forces are performing “ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians,” through ground invasion. “Israeli political leaders have issued statements showing clear intent to commit a genocide of the Palestinian people.” The release also mentioned that mass bombardment of all of Gaza violates the rules of Humanitarian law encoded in the Geneva conventions and stated that Israel’s latest bombing of Jabaliya refugee camp killing hundreds is a latest demonstration of impunity with which Israel violates the rules of war. The release further stressed, citing the UN General Assembly. “Genocide is a denial of the right of existence of entire human groups, as homicide is the denial of the right to live of individual human beings’ and ‘such denial of the right of existence shocks the conscience of mankind.”
In the meantime, the organization has strongly expressed its disappointment with the actions of the Karnataka police, which have curtailed protests and public expressions of solidarity with Palestine. It accuses the police of pursuing criminal action against peaceful protestors and mentions the Congress Working Committee's resolution in support of Palestine, contrasting it with the actions of the Karnataka police.
In the release the organisation has also demanded immediate action from both the Central and Karnataka state governments. From the Central government, the demands include an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and efforts to end Israel's occupation of Palestine. While, from the Karnataka state government, the demands incude, upholding the right to freedom of speech and expression and withdrawing FIRs against protestors.
Simultaneously, the Bengaluru for Justice and Peace organization strongly condemned the actions and emphasized the moral obligation of people to speak up for the rights of Palestinian people, especially as the situation continues to escalate. “Bengaluru for Justice and Peace strongly condemn the Karnataka police and the state government for failing its people, and deliberately curtailing their constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. As the Israeli government is indicating that they will even resort to the use of nuclear weapons, it is the moral obligation of people everywhere to speak up for the rights of Palestinian people,” read the release.
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Gunmen attack building housing Israeli Consulate in Istanbul
Istanbul (AP): A gunfight erupted outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, leaving two assailants dead and a police officer wounded, Turkiye's Haberturk broadcaster reported.
The report said attackers were carrying long-barreled weapons. An exchange of fire with police killed two, while a third assailant was captured. One officer sustained injuries during the clash.
The area surrounding the building was quickly sealed off.
