– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: In solidarity with the people of Gaza, which has been ravaged by ongoing Israeli genocidal attacks, the Kirti Kisan Union (AIKMS) has donated ₹5 lakh to the Palestinian embassy in India. Describing the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinian people as a dark chapter in human history, a delegation from the farmers’ organisation met with Dr. Abed Abu Jezar, the Palestinian ambassador, to present the financial aid and express their support for the people of Palestine during these challenging times.
AIKMS also called for a permanent ceasefire and urged the United Nations to work towards a sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue. The delegation included President Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, General Secretary Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala, Press Secretary Raminder Singh Patiala, Vice President Jatinder Singh Chhina, and Treasurer Jaswinder Singh Jhabelwali.
Speaking at a press conference after their visit to the Palestinian embassy, AIKMS leaders condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza. They described it as one of the most severe genocides in modern history, carried out by Israel with the backing of major powers like the US. They highlighted the suffering of thousands of innocent people, with harrowing images of children, elderly, and women amid the devastation. The people of Gaza have been left without essential services such as food, water, electricity, and medicine, prompting even the UN to call for humanitarian aid. The leaders noted that people worldwide who value peace, justice, and empathy are raising their voices against this genocide and demanding immediate end to it.
The farmer leaders also drew a historical parallel, reminding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the tragic genocide faced by Jews during Hitler’s fascist campaign in World War II. They pointed out the irony that the very people who once suffered immense persecution are now committing similar acts of violence against Palestinians. They argued that just as justice-loving people around the world condemned Hitler’s tyranny, they must now speak out against the oppressive actions of the Israeli government, which appears to be following a similar path.
The union leaders criticised the Indian government’s current stance on the Israel’s genocide in Gaza, accusing it of abandoning India’s longstanding support for Palestine. They urged the government to return to its historical position and stand with the Palestinian people in their struggle for justice.
AIKMS leaders also emphasised the empathy felt by the people of Punjab, particularly Sikhs, towards the plight of Palestinians. They drew connections between the historical atrocities faced by Punjabis during medieval times, the Partition of India, and the events of 1984, noting that these shared experiences of suffering and displacement foster a deep sense of solidarity. They called on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and other justice-seeking organisations across India to come forward and provide assistance to the Palestinian people during this dire crisis.
