A senior member of the Janata Dal (United), a significant ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, has joined leaders from the Opposition parties—Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)—in calling for the Indian government to halt the supply of arms and ammunition to Israel. The call comes amid escalating tensions following Israel’s invasion of Gaza after the deadly attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in October last year. These leaders, including several parliamentarians, issued a joint statement condemning what they described as “ongoing Zionist aggression and the heinous genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel.” They argued that India “cannot be complicit” in these actions.
The statement was released after a lunch meeting in New Delhi with Mohammed Makram Balawi, the Secretary General of the League of Parliamentarians for Al Quds. During the meeting, Balawi discussed in detail Israel’s alleged violations of international law. The meeting was co-organized by K C Tyagi, JD(U) General Secretary, and Javed Ali Khan, a Rajya Sabha MP from SP. Other signatories to the statement included SP Lok Sabha MP Mohibullah Nadvi, former MP and Rashtrawadi Samaj Party’s ex-president Mohammed Adeeb, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, AAP MLA Pankaj Pushkar, Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal, and former Lok Sabha MP Kunwar Danish Ali from the Congress.
The joint statement declared, “We, the undersigned, unequivocally condemn the ongoing Zionist aggression and the heinous genocide of the Palestinian people by Israel. This brutal assault is not only an affront to humanity but also a gross violation of international law and the principles of justice and peace.” The leaders urged the Indian government to stop supplying arms and ammunition to Israel, emphasizing, “As a nation that has always championed the cause of justice and human rights, India cannot be complicit in this genocide.”
The signatories invoked the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to highlight India’s historical support for Palestine. They noted that India was the first non-Arab country to recognize Palestine in 1988 and has consistently supported the Palestinian people’s right to “self-determination, sovereignty, and liberation.” The statement added, “We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and call upon the Government of India and the international community to act swiftly to implement the UNSC resolutions and to end this aggression and ensure peace and justice for the victims of the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”
Since the conflict began in October last year, India has maintained a balanced position. While condemning Hamas, India has also urged Israel to respect international humanitarian law. In October, India abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly on the Israel-Hamas war. Amid the Opposition’s criticism of the government, the BJP has maintained that India’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue has been “steadfast and consistent.” The party has also warned that those who choose to “side with terror” do so at their own risk.
Commenting on JD(U)’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict, K C Tyagi told The Indian Express, “Since the time of the Janata Party, we have been in support of Palestine. The Indian government, including that of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has also supported the Palestinian cause. We want the killing of elderly, women, and children to stop in Gaza and also want UN resolutions regarding Israel and Palestine to be respected.”
The participation of two Congress leaders in the joint statement comes against the backdrop of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s sustained criticism of the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. This is noteworthy given the Congress party’s historically “measured stance” on the issue.
In a statement released in July, Priyanka framed the conflict as a struggle between “barbarism and civilization.” She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “It is no longer enough to speak up for the civilians, mothers, fathers, doctors, nurses, aid workers, journalists, teachers, writers, poets, senior citizens, and the thousands of innocent children who are being wiped out day after day by the horrific genocide taking place in Gaza.” She continued, “It is the moral responsibility of every right-thinking individual, including all those Israeli citizens who do not believe in hatred and violence, and every government in the world to condemn the Israeli government’s genocidal actions and force them to stop. Their actions are unacceptable in a world that professes civility and morality. Instead, we are subjected to the image of the Israeli Prime Minister being given a standing ovation in the US Congress.”
Last October, Priyanka also accused Israel of violating international laws. She remarked, “There is no international law that has not been trampled upon. There is no such limit which has not been crossed. There is no such rule which has not been flouted… When will humanity wake up? After losing how many lives. After sacrificing how many children. Does the consciousness of being human remain? Did it ever exist? Even after the killing of 7,000 people in Gaza, the cycle of bloodshed and violence has not stopped. Out of these 7,000 people, 3,000 were innocent children.”
The joint statement and calls for a halt to arms supplies to Israel reflect the growing tension within the NDA and signal potential discord between the BJP and its allies. The involvement of senior leaders from JD(U), a key ally, adds a significant dimension to the ongoing political debate over India’s foreign policy stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The government’s response to these demands will be closely watched, especially given the historical context of India’s support for Palestinian rights and its diplomatic ties with Israel.