New Delhi— Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for maintaining silence over the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, calling it “disgraceful,” “shameful,” and a betrayal of India’s moral and historical values.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh said the Israeli assault on Gaza has intensified and assumed “horrific new dimensions,” yet the Indian government remains “supremely indifferent,” seemingly to preserve Modi’s close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The genocide in Gaza continues unabated, and even voices within Israel, including a former prime minister, have raised concerns. But the Government of India doesn’t want to risk affecting Mr. Modi’s friendship with Mr. Netanyahu,” Ramesh stated.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been relentlessly bombing the Gaza Strip. As of July 15, 2025, at least 58,386 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and 139,077 injured, with many still trapped under rubble or unreachable due to ongoing airstrikes and collapsed infrastructure.
The humanitarian crisis deepened when Israel, on March 2, shut down Gaza’s main crossings, cutting off food, medical, and aid supplies — a move widely condemned as a tactic of using starvation as a weapon of war. Over 800 Palestinians were reportedly killed while waiting for food from the controversial US-Israel backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, described by many as “death traps.”
Congress has consistently condemned Israel’s actions and India’s diplomatic silence. Ramesh has repeatedly urged the Indian government to speak up. After former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire regarding the US-Israel conflict with Iran, Ramesh pointed out that “there is still no ceasefire in Gaza, where the genocide continues.”
He also criticised the Modi government for failing to respond when Israel released a controversial map showing Jammu & Kashmir as part of Pakistan and Northeast India as part of Nepal. “There was no rebuke from the Prime Minister or his senior ministers,” he said.
Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi also voiced concern, accusing the Indian government of “surrendering its values” by staying silent on Israel’s unlawful strike against Iran and its prolonged offensive in Gaza.
India’s growing ties with Israel under Modi have come under scrutiny, especially as India abstained from a recent UN General Assembly resolution that condemned the use of starvation as a weapon and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution also urged protection of civilians and the lifting of the Israeli blockade to allow humanitarian aid.
Critics say the Modi government’s approach reflects an ideological shift, with the BJP aligning itself more closely with Israel’s ethno-nationalist politics. Zionism’s push for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, observers argue, mirrors the Hindutva movement’s vision of a Hindu-dominated India.
An investigative report by Al Jazeera revealed that India has been supplying weapons and military parts to Israel during the Gaza war. After Israel bombed a UN shelter in Nuseirat refugee camp on June 6, footage released by Quds News Network showed an Israeli missile with visible markings stating “Made in India.”
As international outrage over the Gaza genocide grows, opposition voices in India are demanding accountability, urging the government to uphold the nation’s legacy of supporting oppressed peoples and defending human rights.
