A PROTEST condemning Israel’s attacks on the people of Palestine was organised by the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), Delhi state committee at Jantar Mantar on October 14, 2023. Representatives from various sections of society, including workers, women, students, teachers, lawyers, youth, and farmers, actively participated in this demonstration.

General Secretary of AIPSO Delhi state committee, Subhash Chandran welcomed the gathering and introduced the speakers. He spoke of the significance of the solidarity programme and highlighted how the police tried to disrupt it at the last moment.

AIPSO all India general secretary, Arun Kumar provided a succinct overview of the historical context of Israel's ongoing occupation of Palestine, which violates multiple UN resolutions. He discussed the hardships faced by the Palestinian people and conveyed AIPSO's solidarity with the suffering masses.

AIPSO all India presidium member Nilotpal Basu condemned the Israeli aggression on Palestine and explained the root causes for the present conflict. He talked about how Israeli Zionist forces committed Nakba or ethnic cleansing and forced eviction of Palestinian people. After the current events, Israel has blocked the supply of food, water, and electricity to Gaza. He condemned the role played by US imperialism and its continuous support for Israel. This is a perfect example of the duplicity of US, he stated. Basu underlined the importance of standing in solidarity with Palestine in today’s conjuncture and called upon all the people to join hands against Israeli aggression. This is the legacy of our freedom struggle, where Mahatma Gandhi himself unequivocally expressed our position stating that Palestine belongs to Palestinians as much as France belongs to the French. We should carry forward this legacy and force the government to adhere to our unflinching support to the State of Palestine with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital and the rights of Palestinians to return to their homeland.

AIPSO national vice president G Devarajan talked about how the land of Palestine was systematically snatched by Israel. He brought to notice the dubious role played by BJP IT Cell in spreading canards against Palestine. Unfortunately a section of the media too is falling prey to this narrative and helping the BJP to spread communal venom. He strongly came down on those who tried to portray the issue from a communal angle and said that this is the fight of Palestinians for their homeland and dignity.

AIPSO deputy general secretary and member of parliament, P Santhosh Kumar said that according to the United Nations this year has been the deadliest year for the Palestinian people after 2005-06. Everyday more than one Palestinian citizen is killed by the Israeli armed forces and the private armies run by the settlers. Israel has turned Gaza into a slaughterhouse of humanity. He also spoke on how Narendra Modi has diverted from the historical position of supporting Palestine. He criticised the stance of the PM and the hatred spewed by the pro-BJP media.

Prof Shaswathi Majumdar, member of the state presidium of the AIPSO spoke about the extreme right government in Israel led by Netanyahu and the discrimination meted out to Arab citizens in Israel and also Palestinians. She recalled the erstwhile apartheid regime in South Africa and how people had come together to isolate it and supported the struggle led by the ANC. A similar kind of struggle is necessary today, she concluded.

Trade union leaders representing the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) also participated and Saibabu addressed the gathering on their behalf. Expressing support to the Palestinians’ right to return to their homeland, he condemned the brutal attack launched by Israel on Gaza and the destruction it is causing.

Maimoona Mollah spoke on behalf of the AIDWA and exposed the duplicity of Israel by recounting the number of attacks launched on Gaza in the last fifteen years and the deaths and destruction it had caused.

VP Sanu, president of the SFI spoke about the destruction of schools and educational institutions in Gaza and the disruption it has caused to the education system. The childhood of children born in Gaza is snatched by Israel, which is violating all the human rights guaranteed in the UN Charter.

Leaders of all other mass organisations and civil society groups too addressed the protest demonstration and reiterated their solidarity with Palestine. They resolved to mobilise public opinion against the Israeli aggression and strengthen the solidarity movement.

Vivek Sharma, general secretary of AIPSO Delhi committee thanked the participants who took part in the demonstartion at a short notice, in spite of the obstacles placed by the police.