All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate the establishment of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, and communicate its necessity to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr.Owaisi was speaking to the media after he led an “all party” protest public meeting against the Israeli attacks on Gaza at the AIMIM headquarters in Darussalam. A galaxy of speakers expressed unwavering solidarity with Palestine and its people and collectively passed 12 resolutions, including the right to self-determination, and resisting occupation.
Mr.Owaisi said that India should leverage its role as the current G20 presidency holder, and added, “India still has the G20 presidency. When we have condemned attacks on Ukraine, we should condemn this [Israeli attacks on Gaza] as well. Gazans should get humanitarian aid. We hope our Prime Minister will communicate this to Israel so that a humanitarian corridor is created. More aid is required.”
The Hyderabad Parliamentarian also demanded that Hamas release women and elderly people.
He sought to remind the government of India of its historical stance on Palestine, and stated that India was the first non-Arab country that recognised the Palestine Liberation Organisation as the sole, legitimate representative of Palestine. Reiterating Mahatma Gandhi’s position on the issue, Mr.Owaisi said the former had stated that Palestine is for Palestinians (Arabs), just like England is for the English and France is for the French.
The series of resolutions also included a condemnation of “some states” not allowing demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine. “We condemn the attempt of some state governments in India to discourage or criminalise demonstrations by the Indian people against the shocking Israeli crimes in Gaza Strip including attacks on hospitals, schools, churches and mosques,” the resolution read.
