A coalition of trade unions, lawyers, students and activists on Thursday, April 3, condemned the Indian government's response to the latest aggression by Israel on Gaza as “entirely paltry and unconscionable.”
Addressing the media at the Press Club in Bengaluru, Bengaluru for Justice and Peace (BFJP), in coalition with four trade unions – AITUC, AICCTU, AIUTUC, and CITU – demanded an immediate cessation of all arms trade with Israel and urged the government to sever diplomatic and economic ties in protest against the ongoing violence.
Condemning Israel’s “unilateral breakage” of the January 2025 ceasefire agreement with Hamas, BFJP issued a statement recording that the recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had resulted in over 1,042 deaths, including 200 children. The two-year conflict has resulted in more than 49,500 deaths and displaced approximately 90% of Gaza's population, they said.
The coalition criticised the recently released India-Israel commemorative stamp and ongoing arms trade as evidence of the Indian government's “hollow commitment” to international law.
Addressing the gathering, Madhulika T, an independent lawyer said, “It is of grave concern, especially for us as citizens of India, the fact that today, there's overwhelming evidence of the fact that our country is directly complicit in the genocide of the Palestinians through the arms and ammunitions that we are supplying to Israel; which has been in steady supply. In fact, these are arms and ammunition that Israel is using to bomb, kill, and maim people in Gaza.”
She claimed that last year, there were pictures floating around of missile debris that was found in Gaza that had the words “Make in India” embossed very clearly.
The group also expressed concerns about the agreements to send Indian workers to Israel as replacements for Palestinian labourers. They pointed out that due to the growing rate of unemployment in India, workers are being sent to unsafe jobs in a conflict zone.
Responding to the question on its stand on the Hamas, KS Vimala of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) said, “Any form of violence that violates any norms in such a situation of aggression is being opposed and in the current situation, the more heinous crime and the reason behind it are what is being opposed.”
Criticising India’s position, Madhu Bhushan, an independent women’s rights activist asked how they could associate with Israel, which is accused of committing a genocide. “As citizens, we are asking our government, how can you, in all conscience, take a stand that leads to the massacre of children and ordinary citizens in the name of attacking Hamas?”
BFJP's demands include:
1. Cease of all arms trade with Israel and the severance of all diplomatic, trade and economic ties.
2. The Indian Parliament must pass a resolution condemning Israel's latest aggression and its violation of the ceasefire international law agreement and express solidarity with the Palestinian people to reaffirm our commitment towards human rights and international law.
3. The Indian government must stop targeting activists working on educating people about Palestine and protesting against the Israeli regime.
4. The Indian government must cancel agreements facilitating the export of Indian workers to Israel.
Furthermore, it calls on Indian construction workers to refuse participation in projects that are funded by Israel.