Congress Accuses PM Of ‘Moral Cowardice’ On Gaza, Condemns His Israel Visit
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Modi was “brazenly embracing” Netanyahu despite what he described as “large-scale destruction in Gaza” and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank (Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters)
The Congress on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Israel, accusing him of showing “moral cowardice” at a time when much of the international community has been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said Modi was “brazenly embracing” Netanyahu despite what he described as “large-scale destruction in Gaza” and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. In a post on X, Ramesh wrote that “when much of the world is expressing concern and criticism, the Prime Minister of India is choosing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Netanyahu.” He added, “When the entire world is critical of his ‘dear friend’ Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Modi will be displaying moral cowardice.”
Ramesh contrasted the present government’s approach with what he described as India’s historical commitment to the Palestinian cause. He recalled that on 20 May 1960, then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Gaza and met Indian soldiers serving in the United Nations Emergency Force. “That visit symbolised India’s solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Ramesh noted. He also pointed out that India issued a commemorative postage stamp in solidarity with Palestine on 29 November 1981 and formally recognised the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988. “That was a different era,” he wrote, suggesting that India’s foreign policy has since shifted away from its traditional stance.
Earlier, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged Modi to raise what she termed the “genocide” in Gaza during his address to the Knesset. “I hope the Prime Minister will speak about the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza and demand justice for them,” she said in a post on X. She further stated, “India has always stood for what is right as an independent nation. We must continue to show the light of truth, peace and justice to the world.”
The Congress party has argued that the government’s diplomatic outreach to Israel sits uneasily with its stated commitment to Palestine. Party leaders said the Prime Minister’s decision to proceed with the visit, even as Israeli military operations in Gaza continue, reflects a departure from India’s long-held policy of balancing ties in the region. “You cannot claim to support Palestine in principle while deepening engagement with Israel at this moment,” a senior Congress leader remarked.
Modi’s two-day visit to Israel, which began on Wednesday, is aimed at strengthening bilateral defence and trade cooperation. This marks his second trip to the country in nine years. During his first visit in July 2017, India-Israel relations were elevated to a strategic partnership, signalling closer collaboration across sectors. Congress leaders, however, insist that “strategic interests must not come at the cost of moral clarity,” reiterating their demand that India “reaffirm its historic support for the Palestinian people.”
