
‘Shameful that Indian govt stands silent': Priyanka Gandhi on Israel's attack on Palestine
Gandhi's comments come as the death toll from two years of war in Gaza reached nearly 60,000, with a growing number of people dying from starvation and malnutrition, news agency Reuters reported. Images of starving children continue to circulate online, fueling international criticism of Israel as the situation continues to worsen amid mounting tensions.
Taking to X, she wrote: 'The Israeli state is committing genocide. It has murdered over 60,000 people, 18,430 of whom were children. It has starved hundreds to death including many children and is threatening to starve millions. Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself.'
The Israeli state is committing genocide. It has murdered over 60,000 people, 18,430 of whom were children.
It has starved hundreds to death including many children and is threatening to starve millions.
Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself.
It…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 12, 2025
'It is shameful that the Indian Government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine,' Gandhi added.
Earlier this morning, referring to the killing of at least five Al Jazeera journalists in an Israeli strike near Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital as 'cold blooded murder,' the Congress general secretary underlined, 'the immeasurable courage of those who dare to stand for the truth will never be broken by the violence and hatred of the Israeli state.'
'The cold blooded murder of five Al Jazeera journalists is yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil,' she wrote over another post on X.
The cold blooded murder of five Al Jazeera journalists is yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil.
The immeasurable courage of those who dare to stand for the truth will never be broken by the violence and hatred of the Israeli state.
In a world where much of…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 12, 2025
Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, alongside four other colleagues, was killed in a targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City, according to the media network. The Israeli military then acknowledged the attack, saying it killed a Hamas cell leader posing as an Al Jazeera journalist.
'In a world where much of the media is enslaved to power and commerce, these brave souls reminded us of what true journalism is. May they rest in peace,' she said.
This is not the first time Gandhi has voiced strong condemnation of Israel's attack on Gaza. She joined a chorus of international criticism against Israel's military actions earlier this year, after 400 innocent civilians, including 130 children, were killed by them in Gaza.
The United Nations Human Rights office Monday condemned the airstrike targeting the journalists' tent, and called for 'immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists.'
Calling it a 'grave breach of international humanitarian law,' the UN wrote: '#Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists. At least 242 Palestinian journalists were killed in Gaza since 7 Oct 2023.'
(with PTI inputs)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Indian Express
a minute ago
- Indian Express
Merely possessing Aadhaar, PAN card or voter ID doesn't make person Indian citizen: Bomaby HC
A person does not become a citizen of India merely by possessing documents like Aadhaar card, PAN card or a voter ID, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday said while refusing bail to a man, allegedly from Bangladesh, for entering India illegally. The man is accused of staying in India for more than a decade with forged and fabricated documents. A bench of Justice Amit Borkar said provisions of the Citizenship Act lay down who can be a citizen of India and how citizenship can be acquired and documents such as the Aadhaar card, PAN card and voter ID are only meant for identification or availing services. The court refused bail to Babu Abdul Ruf Sardar, alleged to be a Bangladeshi national, who entered India illegally without a valid passport or travel documents. He allegedly procured forged Indian documents such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID and also an Indian passport. In 1955, Parliament passed the Citizenship Act which created a permanent and complete system for acquiring citizenship, Justice Borkar noted. 'In my opinion, the Citizenship Act of 1955 is the main and controlling law for deciding questions about nationality in India today. This is the statute that lays down who can be a citizen, how citizenship can be acquired and in what situations it can be lost,' he said. 'Merely having documents such as Aadhaar card, PAN card or voter ID does not, by itself, make someone a citizen of India. These documents are meant for identification or availing services, but they do not override the basic legal requirements of citizenship as prescribed in the Citizenship Act,' the HC said. The law draws a clear line between lawful citizens and illegal migrants, the bench said. People falling in the category of illegal migrants are barred from obtaining citizenship through most of the legal routes mentioned in the Citizenship Act, it added. 'This distinction is important because it protects the sovereignty of the country and ensures that benefits and rights meant for citizens are not wrongfully taken by those who have no legal status to stay in India,' the court said. The bench, while refusing bail to Sardar, noted that verification of his documents was still on and the investigation was also still continuing, and the police's fear that he may abscond if granted bail is a genuine apprehension. The allegations in the case are not small and it is not just about staying in India without permission or overstaying, but it is about making and using fake and forged identity documents with the aim of pretending to be an Indian citizen, the HC said. Sardar was booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Passport (Entry to India) Act and the Foreigners Order. The court noted the investigation in the case is still going on with regard to genuineness of the Aadhaar card, which is being verified by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Sardar in his bail plea said he was a bona fide citizen of India and that there was no conclusive or reliable evidence to prove he is a national of Bangladesh. He further claimed his documents are linked with his income tax records and business registration and that he has been residing in Mumbai's neighbouring Thane district since 2013. The prosecution opposed the plea, claiming if the accused was released on bail, he may abscond. The police further said a probe was on to ascertain if there was a larger organised network involving illegal immigration and identity fraud. The court in its order noted the allegations against Sardar are not limited to a mere technical violation of immigration norms, but indicate a case of deliberate concealment of identity and creation of forged documents for obtaining the Indian citizenship benefits. When the Constitution of India was being drafted, the country had just gone through a historic transformation and the partition at the time caused a massive movement of people across borders, creating a need to decide who would be accepted as citizens of the new nation, it noted. Keeping this in mind, framers of the Constitution decided to make an arrangement for deciding citizenship, the high court said. The Constitution laid down provisions which gave immediate clarity on who would be considered a citizen at the very beginning of the Republic and it gave the elected Parliament the powers to make laws on citizenship in future, the court noted.
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
a minute ago
- First Post
Netanyahu's Gaza plan fuels Israeli hostage families' anger: Strike called on Sunday to end war
Relatives fear an expanded assault on Gaza City could endanger the captives. Among them is Evyatar David, recently seen emaciated in a Hamas video read more Relatives and supporters of hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas protest for the release of all hostages outside the headquarters of the Likud Party, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Reuters Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are urging a nationwide strike on Sunday to press the government to reach a cease-fire deal with Hamas that would secure their relatives' release, even as Israel moves to expand its nearly two-year military campaign in the territory. 'Silence enables their sacrifice on the altar of an endless war without purpose or goal,' the Hostage Families Forum, an advocacy group, said in a statement. 'This is the time for everyone to join us, across the entire country.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The appeal came days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to intensify operations in Gaza. Last week, Israel's security cabinet authorised a proposal to 'take over' Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering, New York Times reported. It was unclear how much support the strike call would receive. The Histadrut, Israel's largest labour union, ruled out participation. The union had joined a previous strike last year that failed to change government policy. 'Although my heart is bursting with anger, it has no practical outcome,' union leader Arnon Bar-David said Monday. Hostages still in Gaza Hamas and allied militants abducted about 250 people during the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war. More than 100 were freed in two short-lived cease-fires, while Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of others. Around 20 hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, with the bodies of roughly 30 more also still there. Relatives fear an expanded assault on Gaza City could endanger the captives. Among them is Evyatar David, recently seen emaciated in a Hamas video. Anat Angrest, whose son Matan was kidnapped while serving as a soldier near the Gaza border, accused the government of endangering him. 'They're fighting to bring him back — but in practice, they're putting both his life in danger and their own,' she told reporters. Human toll in Gaza Gaza health officials say more than 60,000 people have been killed in the Israeli campaign, including thousands of children, though the figures do not separate civilians from combatants. Israeli officials have said a takeover of Gaza City would require weeks to mobilise reserves and evacuate civilians, potentially leaving a window for further truce negotiations. Families of hostages say that time should be used to secure their release rather than press ahead with the offensive.


Hans India
a minute ago
- Hans India
Parliament clears twin bills to reform sports administration, doping oversight; move paves way to win 2036 Olympic
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking a watershed moment in India's legislative efforts to overhaul its sports administration and enhancing chances to win the bid for the Olympic 2036. The Bills, already cleared by the Lok Sabha, were moved by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who described them as transformative instruments aimed at promoting ethical governance, athlete welfare, and institutional accountability across the country's sporting landscape. The debate in the House was briefly disrupted when Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge attempted to raise concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls. Sasmit Patra, who was in the Chair, expunged Kharge's remarks following an intervention by Leader of the House J.P. Nadda, ruling them unrelated to the legislative business at hand. Subsequently, members of the Opposition staged a walkout. Among the most poignant interventions came from Olympian P.T. Usha, nominated member and President of the Indian Olympic Association, who recalled her near-podium finish at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. 'I missed the bronze by one-hundredth of a second. My heart broke not for myself, but for an entire generation of Indian athletes who had the strength and courage, but not the system,' she said. 'This Bill is not just about governance - it is about justice and fair play.' Prafull Patel of the NCP (Maharashtra) said, 'Every athlete's voice will now be heard,' adding that the proposed tribunal would ensure speedy resolution of disputes. He noted that the reforms in the Bill would help India realise its Olympic ambitions, including the bid for the 2036 Games. 'Every single sports federation is mired in legal cases. Courts take their own time. This tribunal will change that,' he said, also highlighting the Bill's mandate for women's representation in sports federations. Ayodhya Rama Reddy Alla of the YSR Congress Party welcomed the Bill's clarity and its promise of a unified framework for national and regional sports federations. Other members who spoke in support included Dr. Parmar Janswantsinh Salamsinh Jhala of the BJP (Gujarat), Sana Satish Babu of the TDP - who also serves as Secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association - Ravi Chandra Vaddiraju of the BRS (Telangana), Dhananjay Bhimrao Mahadik of the BJP (Maharashtra), Narhari Amin of the BJP (Gujarat), who delivered his remarks in Gujarati, Bhubneshwar Kalita of the BJP (Assam), Seema Dwivedi of the BJP (Uttar Pradesh), and Maya Naroliya of the BJP (Madhya Pradesh). The House also passed the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to align India's anti-doping framework with global standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The amendment ensures operational independence for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), addressing earlier concerns over government interference. It removes oversight powers previously granted to the National Anti-Doping Board, reinforcing NADA's autonomy in investigations, enforcement, and adjudication. The Sports Governance Bill seeks to establish a unified legal framework for the development and promotion of sports, rooted in the principles of fair play, transparency, and international best practices. It aligns with the Olympic and Paralympic Charters and introduces a National Sports Board to regulate and recognise sports federations. The Board will have powers to de-recognise federations for election irregularities, financial opacity, or failure to publish audited accounts. Crucially, the Bill also provides for the creation of a specialised National Sports Tribunal, chaired by a sitting or former Supreme Court judge, to adjudicate disputes related to athlete selection, governance, and federation elections. Tribunal decisions will be appealable only in the Supreme Court, offering athletes a faster and more specialised route to justice. With both Bills now cleared by Parliament, India moves decisively toward building a transparent, accountable, and globally competitive sports ecosystem - one that promises not only medals but dignity, fairness, and institutional support for every athlete. After Minister Mandaviya's motion to pass the Bill, Surendra Singh Nagar considered the proposal, and the Bill was passed without any protest from the Opposition, through a voice vote.