Mumbai: A protest meeting in Dadar organized by CPI, CPM, CPI-ML, Samajwadi Party, and various social organizations, called for unified efforts to stop Israel’s aggression, describing it as the most pressing need of the time. The event, held at Shivaji Mandir Hall on Tuesday, marked the first anniversary of Israel’s attack on Gaza. Protesters chanted slogans of Free Palestine, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about Israel’s genocidal actions.
Activist Tushar Gandhi remarked, “This is not a war; it’s the mass killing of Palestinians. This must stop immediately, and the Indian government should halt arms supplies to Israel. This has never been part of our policy, but unfortunately, it is happening now.”
Comrade Prakash Reddy highlighted that “Israel is determined to continue its aggression, backed by the U.S., which has enabled it to bomb Gaza for a year. Thousands of children have been killed, and large parts of the population have been wiped out. This is not a war; it’s genocide. All peace-loving and humanitarian people must stand up against this.”
Dr. S.K. Rege, in his presidential address, traced the historical context of the conflict and emphasized, “Our country’s policy has always been to support the oppressed, and the Indian government must reassess its stance, use diplomatic ties to stop Israel, and cut off arms supplies.”
Veteran pro-Palestine activist, Feroz Mithiborwala expressed: “In a comparative analysis, it’s clear that Israel has lost the war. Despite its year-long conflict with Hamas, the resistance continues, with both Hamas and Hezbollah responding forcefully, even with limited resources. Israel is guilty of war crimes for targeting civilian populations, hospitals, mosques, and refugee camps, but its fate is failure.”
Samajwadi Party’s Meraj Siddiqui presented maps of historical and current Palestine. All speakers strongly condemned Israel’s atrocities and demanded permanent ceasefire. They called for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state, emphasizing that justice for Palestinians can no longer be delayed.
Before the meeting, the Shivaji Park Police Station issued a notice to the organizers, warning that any issues arising from the protest would lead to strict action and could be used as evidence in court. Despite police pressure to cancel the event, the organizers proceeded, having obtained prior permission.
