Civil society groups hold symbolic hunger strike in Pune protesting atrocities against Palestinians
Chanting slogans such as 'Stop the genocide in Palestine!', 'Start food aid immediately!' and 'Free Palestine!', protesters demanded that the Indian government take a firm and unequivocal stand in support of Palestine, continuing its historical position of backing Palestinian sovereignty and justice.
For nearly two years, and even before, Israel has been accused of carrying out relentless attacks on Gaza. Protesters highlighted that innocent women, children, and men are being killed daily in aerial bombings, and that the situation has worsened with Israel blocking the supply of essential goods such as food and medicines. They pointed out that this amounts to a deliberate starvation strategy , which can amount to a war crime. The protest in Pune was part of a larger international campaign from July 27 to August 3, during which citizens across the globe staged hunger strikes and solidarity demonstrations.
The event was jointly organised by several progressive groups including the Stree Mukti Andolan Sampark Samiti, National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), Pune Collective, DYFI, SFI, Nava Samajwadi Paryay, Lokshahi Utsav Samiti, PUCL, among others.
Several notable voices addressed the gathering. Prof. Dr. Parimal Maya Sudhakar spoke of India's historic opposition to the partition of Palestine and its consistent support for peaceful resistance led by Yasser Arafat. He warned against Israel's expansionist ambitions across Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon and urged the Indian government to uphold its legacy by supporting Palestinian liberation.
Prof. Shruti Tambe highlighted multiple cases of gender-based violence committed by Israeli forces, and the cruel targeting of refugee camps and civilians asking for food. She cited alarming figures — over 18,000 Palestinian children have died in the past two months alone, many now dying due to hunger.
Writer and academic Anjali Chipalkatti called the assault on Gaza a profiteering land grab disguised as war. 'This is not war,' she said, 'but a colonial strategy to displace a population and occupy land.' She emphasised that resisting such injustice is a moral and scientific imperative.
The protest concluded with a united pledge by all participants to continue raising their voice for the people of Palestine, and to oppose injustice in all its forms across the world.
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