7 October, 2024 marks one year of the ongoing genocidal war launched by Israel against the Palestinian people, in the occupied areas of Gaza and the West Bank, and more recently in Lebanon and other areas.
On this occasion, hundreds of people – women, students and youth, workers and people from different walks of life – gathered in a huge show of protest at Jantar Mantar, near the Parliament in New Delhi.
The participants carried placards and banners on which were inscribed slogans such as – ‘Down with Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people!’, ‘End Israel’s illegal occupation of Gaza Strip, West Bank and all Palestinian territories!’, ‘Support the struggle of the Palestinian people for their national rights!’, ‘Condemn the support of US imperialism for Israel!’, ‘Down with the Israel’s terrorist attack on Lebanese people!’, and ‘Down with the sale of arms to Israel by Indian companies!’ Militant slogans rang out at the venue, denouncing Israel for its brutal massacre of tens of thousands of women, children and men, and denouncing the US for its support to Israel in the genocide.
The rally was jointly organized by the Indo-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN), India Palestine Solidarity Forum (IPSF), Indians for Palestine (I4P), AIDWA, NFIW, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan, AIMSS, AICCTU, AICCWW, AIDSO, AIDYO, AIKS, AIPSN, AIPSO, AIPWA, AISA, AISF, AITUC, AIYF, ANHAD, CITU, COLLECTIVE, Delhi Forum, DOSTI, DSF, DSG, DSMM, DYFI, ICWM, IFTU, IPTA, Janhastakshep, Jana Natya Manch, Jana Samskriti, Jimmedari SWO, JSA, KYS, Mazdoor Ekta Committee, MWF, NAPM, Nishant Natya Manch, PDSU, PUCL, RYF, SFI, UTUC, YWCA, and others. Several other organisations supporting the Palestinian cause also joined the rally, with their banners, slogans and voices of support.
The rally was addressed by Comrade Prakash Karat, Coordinator of Polit Bureau and Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist); Comrade D Raja, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India; Comrade Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist); Comrade Prakash Rao, Spokesperson of the Communist Ghadar Party of India; Comrade G Devarajan, Secretary-General of All India Forward Bloc; Comrade RS Dagar of Revolutionary Socialist Party; Comrade Harish Tyagi of Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) and Comrade Mrigank of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) New Democracy. Representatives of Jimmedari SWO, Janhastakshep, Collective and other organisations also spoke at the rally.
The speakers, in one voice, condemned the horrific genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza, the West Bank and now in Lebanon. Tens of thousands of people, majority of whom are women and children, have been murdered. Thousands more are reported missing. Lakhs have suffered grievous injuries. Hospitals and schools have been specially targeted. Children are dying of starvation and preventable diseases. More than two million people of Gaza have been turned into permanent refugees. The speakers condemned the terrorist attacks on the Lebanese people and the devastating bombings of the Lebanese capital Beirut and other towns. Pointing out that Israel has launched terrorist attacks against Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, they expressed the apprehension that the flames of war may engulf all the countries of West Asia.
Speakers pointed out that the grave situation facing the countries and peoples of West Asia is a direct result of the political, financial and military support given by the US to Israel. It is because of this that Israel is able to carry out the genocide of the Palestinian people and to attack the sovereignty of other countries with impunity. The US is the main force blocking a peaceful solution to the problem in West Asia. US imperialism has been using Israel as its weapon to establish its complete domination over this oil-rich region. Its support to Israel is a part of its strategy to establish its unrivalled hegemony over the whole world, they stated.
The position of the Indian state was severely criticized. India has abstained from voting on the UN resolution calling for an end to the genocide and for stopping weapons sales to Israel. The Indian state is continuing to permit the export of weapons to Israel. These actions were condemned by all the speakers, as a shameful betrayal of the Palestinian people and a betrayal of the sentiments of the Indian people, who have always supported the right of the Palestinian nation to self-determination.
A street play performed by the activists of Jan Natya Manch poignantly depicted the sufferings of the Palestinian people and powerfully brought out their determination to fight for the restoration of their homeland, against all odds.
Songs and musical performances by Nishant Natya Manch, IPTA, ANHAD and other organisations brought to life the deep sentiments expressed by all the participants at the rally.
A resolution was adopted at the rally. Some of the key points of the resolution were:
- Israel must be made to stop its genocidal war against the Palestinian people. Sanctions must be imposed on Israel and there must be an embargo on arms sales to Israel.
- The Indian Government must stop supporting Israel. It must vote in the United Nations against the genocidal actions of the US backed Israeli government. It must stop selling arms to Israel.
The resolution concluded with: “We call on heads of all the states to fulfill their legal and moral duty of preventing genocide. They must levy sanctions against Israel and isolate it on all fronts. As the elected heads of their respective states, they must now ensure that Israel withdraws from all Occupied Territories. Stand for Palestine! Ceasefire Now! Ensure Justice for Palestinian People!”