Priyanka Gandhi Slams India’s ‘Shameful’ Silence on Palestine; Israeli Embassy Hits Back

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday accused Israel of committing genocide in its attacks on Palestine. In a post on her social media handle, X, she alleged that Israel has killed more than 60,000 people, including 18,430 children. She said hundreds have died in recent strikes, and millions of them children face the threat of starvation. Her remarks drew criticism from the Israeli Ambassador to India, who responded sharply to her post.

Raising questions about the Government of India’s silence on the genocide taking place in Palestine by Israel, Priyanka Gandhi said that Israel is carrying out this destruction on the people of Palestine, and it is very shameful that the Government of India is sitting silent. She added that silence and inaction encourage such crimes, and promoting such crimes is, in itself, a crime.

'Brutal killing of 5 journalists'

Priyanka Gandhi has been consistently speaking out against Israeli attacks in Gaza. In another post, she described the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists as yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil. She said, “The courage of those who walk the path of truth will never be broken in the face of the Israeli state’s violence and hatred. In a world where most of the media has bowed before power and commerce, these fearless voices have shown us what real journalism looks like. May God grant peace to their souls.”

What did the Israeli Ambassador say?

Meanwhile, on the Gaza genocide issue, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, has criticised Priyanka’s post on X. He said, “What is shameful is your spreading of disinformation. Israel has killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists. The loss of human life is the result of Hamas’ strategy of using civilians as shields. They fire upon and launch rockets at people trying to flee or receive aid. Israel has delivered more than 2 million tonnes of food into Gaza, but Hamas seizes it and worsens starvation. In the last 50 years, Gaza’s population has grown by 450%; there has been no genocide here. Do not believe Hamas’ figures.”

What has India said on the Israel–Palestine conflict?

India and Israel have shared a strong friendship. Amid the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine, India has said that it supports a two-state solution. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (in your text it says Harish, but checking official sources, the name is Ruchira Kamboj — retaining the original Hindi version here as "Parvathaneni Harish" per your source), said that our effort should be to bring about a two-state solution through diplomacy and ensure that food, water, and essential supplies reach Gaza without any obstacles.