– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: In a united protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, five major Left parties have called June 17, 2025, a National Day of Solidarity with Palestine. They condemned what they termed a “genocidal war” and Israel’s attack on the Madleen, a humanitarian ship from the Freedom Flotilla intercepted in international waters.
The parties — CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) Liberation, AIFB, and RSP — released a joint statement. They urged citizens across India to join protests condemning Israeli military actions and to support the Palestinian cause.
A central protest will be held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi at 11:00 a.m. on June 17. The parties also called on democratic, secular, and peace-loving groups to organise similar events across the country.
The statement said more than 55,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in over 20 months of conflict. The Left parties accused Israel of genocide. They cited bombings, attacks on hospitals, schools, and shelters, and the blockade of humanitarian aid.
“Gaza is facing a humanitarian catastrophe,” the statement said. It added that Israel is even blocking the entry of life-saving aid.
The parties also slammed the attack on the Madleen and urged the Indian government to demand the release of detained international volunteers. They called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
The Left leaders criticised India’s changing stand on Palestine. They said India’s historical support for Palestine, rooted in anti-colonial solidarity, is being abandoned.
They accused the Indian government of “equivocation and appeasement” under an ideological shift. “It is disturbing that the government is silent and complicit,” the statement noted.
The parties demanded that India stop all military and security ties with Israel. They urged the government to return to its traditional stand with oppressed nations and freedom movements.
The Left parties appealed to citizens, civil society groups, students, and workers to join protests in large numbers on June 17. The protests will demand:
Condemnation of Israeli genocide and war crimes.
Solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for freedom and dignity.
An end to India-Israel military and security cooperation.
A return to India’s historic, principled stand on Palestine.
The joint statement was signed by D. Raja (CPI), M.A. Baby (CPI-M), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), G. Devarajan (AIFB), and Manoj Bhattacharya (RSP).
This announcement comes amid rising global criticism of Israel’s actions. The UN and the International Court of Justice have raised concerns about violations of international law.
As India’s foreign policy draws attention and civil groups raise their voices, the June 17 protests could mark a key moment of resistance.
