Priyanka Gandhi Denounces Israel for ‘Genocide’ in Gaza; Envoy Reuven Azar Urges Skepticism of Hamas Numbers
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has sharply criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, accusing the nation of acting with genocidal intent. Her remarks have intensified the debate around the ongoing conflict, highlighting her concerns regarding the Indian government’s response-or lack thereof.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi claimed that the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 individuals, including 18,430 children, and alleged that Israel is intentionally starving hundreds of thousands more. “Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself,” she emphasized, expressing her shame that the Indian government remains quiet as devastating events unfold in Palestine.
Reuven Azar, Israel’s ambassador to India, quickly rebutted Gandhi’s statements, branding her comments as “deceitful.” In response, he provided Israel’s side of the casualty count, stating that Israel has killed 25,000 Hamas militants and that the broader human toll is the result of Hamas employing civilians as shields and obstructing evacuations. “What is shameful is your deceit,” Azar asserted. He further claimed that Israel has delivered “two million tonnes of food into Gaza” and blamed Hamas for exacerbating the humanitarian crisis by hoarding supplies. The ambassador criticized the notion of genocide, emphasizing the significant population growth in Gaza over the last 50 years.
The dire situation in Gaza has escalated, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting that starvation has claimed the lives of five more Palestinians, raising the total to 227, among whom 103 were children. The region has also seen tragic losses among journalists, with five Al Jazeera reporters allegedly killed in targeted Israeli strikes, prompting widespread protests in cities like London, Berlin, Tunis, and Ramallah.
Internationally, the response has been one of condemnation. The EU, China, and Germany, known as one of Israel’s closest allies, have criticized the targeted killings of journalists, while the United Nations has categorized the attacks as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The global outcry underlines a growing concern about the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
Since the onset of Israel’s military operations, Gaza’s health officials have reported staggering figures, claiming that approximately 61,499 individuals have been killed and around 153,575 have sustained injuries. Israel, for its part, maintains that 1,139 people were killed and over 200 taken hostage during the initial Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, drawing attention from around the world and fueling discussions about accountability, the protection of human rights, and the responsibilities of nations in times of war.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/priyanka-gandhi-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza-envoy-reuven-azar-responds-don-t-buy-hamas-numbers-11754990685487.html
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Publish Date: 2025-08-12 15:23:00
