Sonia Gandhi Slams Modi’s Silence on Gaza, Calls for Bold Stand in Support of Palestinians

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing his government of “shameful silence” over Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza. In a strongly worded opinion piece published in Dainik Jagran on July 29, Gandhi said India must adopt a “clear and bold” stance in favour of the Palestinian people.

She described Israel’s actions as “barbaric” and “genocidal”, arguing that the Modi government’s inaction represents a “cowardly betrayal of our constitutional values.”

Gandhi noted that India has historically been a vocal supporter of Palestine, recalling how under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India became the first non-Arab nation to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1974. India also officially recognised the State of Palestine in 1988.

“The Global South is once again looking to India for leadership,” Gandhi wrote, urging Modi to speak out “clearly, boldly and forthrightly” in line with India’s past legacy.

While condemning Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and its hostage-taking, Gandhi emphasized that nothing can justify Israel’s disproportionate military response against Gaza’s civilian population.

“As human beings, it is our moral responsibility to acknowledge that the Israeli reprisals have been not just excessive, but criminal in nature,” she wrote.

She cited figures claiming that over 55,000 Palestinian civilians, including 17,000 children, have been killed since the conflict escalated, and accused Israel of deliberately blocking humanitarian aid — an act she called a “crime against humanity.”

Critique of ‘Colonial Mindset’ and Global Inaction

Gandhi also took aim at what she called a “colonial mindset” driving Israeli actions, supported by greedy real estate tycoons. Without naming them directly, she referenced reports of plans to turn Gaza into a luxury development, a vision previously echoed by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Donald Trump.

She lamented the failure of the international community, noting that UN resolutions and International Court of Justice (ICJ) orders have been ignored. Gandhi praised countries like South Africa and Brazil for taking legal action at the ICJ, and cited France for recognising Palestinian statehood. She also acknowledged sanctions imposed by Britain and Canada on Israeli officials.

‘India Must Reclaim Its Global Role’

Gandhi invoked the Directive Principles of State Policy in India’s Constitution, which urge the country to promote international peace and respect for international law. She reminded readers of India’s legacy in leading anti-colonial and anti-apartheid movements, suggesting that the country’s current silence undermines that proud history.

“At a time when innocent civilians are being brutally slaughtered, India’s silence is not neutrality—it is complicity,” she warned. “This is a blot on our national conscience.”

Her remarks come weeks after Congress Sandesh, the party’s official publication, accused the Modi government of failing on multiple fronts in addressing the Gaza conflict. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, too, has consistently voiced support for Gaza and called for peace.

Gandhi’s op-ed is among the strongest statements yet from the Indian opposition on the Gaza crisis, placing pressure on the Modi government to clarify its position amid a mounting international outcry.