New Delhi: Prominent political leaders, human rights defenders, academics, bureaucrats, and representatives from various organisations convened on Saturday under the banner of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (Registered) to express solidarity with Palestinians and affirm their support for the Palestinian cause.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, Upendra Yadav, who presided over the event, drew a parallel between the Vietnam War and the Palestinian struggle. Recalling a conversation between a journalist and former US President Nixon about why a superpower like America lost to Vietnam, Yadav quoted Nixon’s reply: “The American military was fighting a war against the people of Vietnam, and no one can defeat a people united in their fight.”
Yadav stated that similarly, the Palestinian people, fighting against the combined military power of the U.S. and Israel, will one day compel Israel to withdraw, just as the U.S. retreated from Vietnam. Yadav, while talking to Radiance, said that Israel’s genocide of Palestinian people should be condemned by the world at large and should not be acceptable in any way. He urged the world community to rise up against this genocide.
Social activist and human rights defender Professor Sandeep Pandey shared his experiences and actions in support of Palestine. He recounted marching to the UNICEF office in Lucknow on International Solidarity Day with the Palestinian People to demand Israel’s removal from the UN. Pandey, who once travelled to Gaza with a humanitarian aid ship, praised the courage of Palestinians and called for global resistance to Israeli policies, akin to the global opposition to apartheid in South Africa.
Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission, highlighted historical connections between India and Palestine, referencing figures such as Baba Farid and Muhammad Ali Jauhar. He discussed the Oslo Accords, explaining their origins and the reasons behind their failure, urging India to maintain its long-standing pro-Palestinian stance.
Human rights activist Harsh Mander criticised the world’s selective application of the post-Holocaust slogan “Never Again,” stressing the need to include Palestinians in its ambit.
Professor Achin Vanaik, a political scientist and writer, condemned Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestine, labelling it an apartheid state. He noted that Israel lacks defined territorial boundaries and functions as a militarised state prioritising its Jewish identity over citizenship.
Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, spokesperson of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, condemned Israel’s human rights violations and pointed out its failure to break Palestinian resistance, even with U.S. support.
Dr. Sunilam, founder of Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, urged Muslim countries to draw inspiration from nations like South Africa and Venezuela. He predicted a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine conflict before the U.S. presidential transition.
The event concluded with a call for global solidarity with Palestinians and a push for governments to advocate for their rights and freedoms, even as many world leaders remain silent.
