SM Fasiullah for BeyondHeadlines
Hyderabad: People in Hyderabad have raised strong voice condemning Israel’s recent air strikes on the Palestinian lands, which killed at least 100 innocent civilians and injured thousands other while also damaging numerous properties.
The massive attack from Israeli side, which is being perceived as ‘collective punishment’ by the Israeli government, led to destruction of lives and properties of Palestinians at a large scale. The deadly airstrikes and ground offensive came after three Israeli students were allegedly killed by rogue militants.
‘Collective punishment’ is a war crime as per the Geneva Conventions, which establish humane rules of war under international law. This is “deeply harmful to the Israel-Palestine peace process, polarizing Palestinian political groups and civilians against Israel”, observed a Vox report.
The US-based online news portal further noted that collective punishment could polarize Israelis against Palestinians. The Israeli government’s rhetoric and actions in this regard coincided with incidents of mob violence against civilians in Palestine by Israelis, it noted.
Israel’s latest offensive named ‘Operation Protective Edge’ is the third major offensive on the Gaza Strip in six years, says Aljazeera while chronicling disproportionate attacks on Gaza since 2005 in its interactive report Gaza Under Attack.
Reacting sharply to the recent bloodshed in Gaza and ongoing offensive from Israel on Palestinians, Indians have condemned killings of innocent civilians, especially children and women.
In Hyderabad, students, youth and children came out on streets condemning Israel’s war crime of killing children, women and innocent civilians in a ‘collective punishment’ offensive launched against people of Palestine.
Over 1500 protesters gathered near PV Narsimha Rao Express Way in Mehdipatnam area under the banner of Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) Hyderabad chapter today to express their anguish over killings and destruction in Gaza.
A few of the slogans raised by them were: “Murdering 11 months old is not self defense”, “You don’t need to be a Muslim to stand up with Gaza”, “Stop Bombing, End the Siege on Gaza”, “Saudia Yahudia”, “Masoomo ka khoon baha, UN, Saudi khamoosh raha” (why UN & Saudi is silent on killings of innocents), and “Solidarity with Palestinians”.
SIO Hyderabad City President Layeeq Ahmed Khan said Israel has legitimate right to take action against those killed its students but that does not mean it can kill hundreds of innocent civilians of Palestine in retaliation. “Target killings is against humanity. UN must intervene for peace and reconciliation, and ensure cease fire,” Mr. Khan said.
India’s influential Islamic group Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s (JIH) president Jalaluddin Omari strongly condemned Israeli air strikes and termed the offensive “immoral and illegal” which is “against peace and justice”.
He asked Palestinians not to feel lonely for not having “no strong and sincere supportive Muslim nation in its neighbourhood” and assured that peace and justice-loving sympathizers are with them in their 65-year struggle for due rights.
While asking Muslim nations to help Palestinians in this difficult time as part of “religious and moral duty”, Maulana Omari urged Indian government not fall prey to Israel and continue its old policy of supporting Palestinian cause.
