Congress, Shiv Sena Call for Action Against Israeli Ambassador

Fast Summary

• Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted on X, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Palestine, stating over 60,000 peopel were killed, including 18,430 children.
• She criticized the Indian Government’s silence on the issue and argued that enabling such crimes through inaction is itself a crime.
• Israel Ambassador Reuven Azar responded sharply to her post, claiming her statements were deceitful. He stated:

– Israel killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists.
– Civilian deaths are caused by Hamas’s tactics of using humans as shields and obstructing evacuation efforts.
– Despite facilitating food aid to Gaza (2 million tonnes), Hamas allegedly exacerbates hunger.
– Disputed claims of genocide with population growth data from Gaza over decades.

• Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the Israeli diplomat’s tone toward Indian parliamentarians and requested action from India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh termed Mr. Azar’s remarks unacceptable and accused India’s Modi Government of moral cowardice for not confronting Israel’s actions publicly.

Indian Opinion analysis

The exchange highlights sensitivities between domestic political rhetoric in India and international diplomacy regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. While Ms. Vadra raised grave humanitarian concerns citing high casualty numbers attributed to Israeli actions, Ambassador Azar countered with a defense pointing at Hamas’s alleged tactics that complicate civilian safety.

Responses from figures like Ms. Chaturvedi convey growing discomfort among Indian lawmakers regarding foreign diplomats addressing their public views aggressively within India’s borders-a matter tied intimately to protocols governing diplomatic engagement.

On a broader level, this situation underscores challenges for India’s foreign policy balance amidst rising global tensions surrounding Palestine-Israel relations. With public discourse intensifying domestically against perceived governmental silence on restrictive measures or violence by international powers like Israel, clear communication or action by the MEA may be crucial to manage escalating sentiments while asserting national dignity diplomatically.

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