Israel’s relentless assault on Palestinians, enabled by global inaction and India’s moral retreat, demands urgent accountability
A Bloodstained Tragedy in Gaza
As the rubble piles higher in Gaza, burying children and dreams alike, the world watches a genocide unfold in real time. Israel’s indiscriminate bombings, which have razed homes, hospitals, and schools, are not mere acts of war but a methodical campaign of destruction against a stateless people. The Palestinian death toll mounts daily, yet the international community remains eerily silent, complicit either through inaction or by arming Israel’s relentless assault. This is not a conflict; it is a moral catastrophe that tests humanity’s conscience.
The crisis in Gaza is not a sudden flare-up but the latest chapter in a decades-long saga of dispossession and dehumanization. Israel’s actions—condemned by human rights organizations as apartheid and genocide—reveal a state driven by territorial ambition and ideological supremacy. As the world grapples with its failure to intervene, nations like India, once a beacon of anti-colonial resistance, have abandoned their moral compass, aligning with an oppressor for political gain.
Israel’s Unbounded Ambitions
Unlike territorial disputes with defined boundaries, such as India-Pakistan’s conflict over Jammu & Kashmir, Israel operates without officially declared borders. Its refusal to submit a geographical map to the United Nations underscores a revanchist vision of a “Greater Israel,” fuelled by land grabs and population displacement. This expansionist ethos, coupled with military domination, sets Israel apart from other states with contested territories.
Israel’s ideological framework further distinguishes it: apartheid is not merely practiced but enshrined in law. Defining itself as a Jewish state, Israel relegates non-Jewish citizens, particularly Palestinians, to second-class status. Segregated roads, housing, and a dual legal system—where Palestinians face military courts while Jewish settlers enjoy civilian ones—cement this reality. Reports from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have labelled Israel an apartheid state, yet global powers continue to supply arms and diplomatic cover, enabling Tel Aviv’s impunity.
A Genocide Enabled by Global Complicity
The scale of devastation in Gaza defies comprehension. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to ash, and humanitarian aid is routinely blocked, leaving survivors to starve. Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, framed as defensive, fit a broader pattern of regional destabilization and contempt for international law. These actions are not isolated but part of a systematic campaign to erase Palestinian presence through killing or forced expulsion.
The invocation of the Holocaust by Israeli leaders to deflect criticism is a haunting hypocrisy. A people who endured one of history’s greatest atrocities now oversee a devastating campaign against another. Historical victimhood cannot justify present-day crimes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his ultra-nationalist policies, has drawn comparisons to history’s worst tyrants. His actions—war-mongering, civilian massacres, and defiance of global norms—demand accountability, not appeasement.
Gandhi’s Vision Betrayed
Mahatma Gandhi foresaw this moral rot. Decades before Israel’s creation in 1948, he opposed its establishment, recognizing it as a project rooted in terror and colonial displacement. His warnings have proven prescient. Backed by imperialist powers, Israel has pursued a policy of systematic violence against Palestinians, vindicating Gandhi’s stance.
Yet, India, the land of Gandhi, has turned its back on his legacy. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the nation has forged deep ties with Israel, spanning defence deals, intelligence-sharing, and political alignment. This is not merely strategic pragmatism but an ideological convergence. Both Modi and Netanyahu champion ethno-nationalist politics that marginalize minorities and crush dissent. India’s refusal to condemn the atrocities in Gaza—or even suspend diplomatic ties—signals a prioritization of geopolitics over human rights.
This shift marks a profound betrayal. A nation that once championed anti-colonial movements across Africa and Asia now aligns with a colonial oppressor. The soul of India’s republic, built on pluralism and justice, is being eroded by this moral abdication.
India’s Complicity in Silence
India’s silence on Gaza is not just a diplomatic failure; it is a national disgrace. By embracing Israel, India has abandoned its role as a voice for the oppressed. The Modi government’s alignment with Tel Aviv reflects a broader ideological shift toward militarism and religious supremacism, a far cry from the Gandhian values of non-violence and solidarity. This is no longer Gandhi’s India but one that echoes the divisive vision of his assassin, Nathuram Godse.
The Indian public, too, must reckon with this complicity. While social media buzzes with outrage over distant issues, the genocide in Gaza elicits little response. Universities, civil society, and media—once vibrant spaces of dissent—have largely fallen silent, cowed by a climate of intolerance. India’s failure to speak out is not just a betrayal of Palestinians but of its own history as a nation born from resistance to injustice.
A Call for Global Conscience
Gaza is not a Palestinian issue alone; it is a human one. The blood of its children cries out for justice, demanding that the world awaken from its slumber. History will judge not only Israel’s perpetrators but also those who stood by in silence. The measure of a nation lies not in its economic might or military prowess but in its courage to stand for the voiceless.
For India, the path forward is clear: it must reclaim its moral leadership. This begins with condemning Israel’s actions, suspending ties with Tel Aviv, and advocating for Palestinian rights on the global stage. Indians who still believe in humanity must raise their voices—through protests, writings, and public discourse—to remind their government that silence in the face of genocide is complicity.
Globally, the call is equally urgent. Nations must halt arms sales to Israel, impose sanctions, and support international efforts to hold Netanyahu and his enablers accountable. The International Criminal Court and other bodies must act swiftly to ensure justice is not delayed.
History’s Unforgiving Gaze
The genocide in Gaza is a stain on humanity’s conscience. It is a test of whether we can still claim to value life, dignity, and justice. As the bombs fall and the world averts its eyes, the pages of history are being written. They will record not only the crimes of Israel but the indifference of those who could have acted.
Let us not allow Gaza’s agony to be forgotten. Let us speak, protest, and demand accountability—for the children buried under rubble, for the families torn apart, and for the future of a people fighting to exist. The measure of our civilization hangs in the balance, and history is watching.
~Hasnain Naqvi is a former member of the history faculty at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
