New Delhi, 19 May 2021: Prominent Indian socio-religious leaders have denounced Israel’s massacre of innocent Palestinians, in an online press conference under the banner 'Indian Friends for Palestine'. They issued a joint statement today in solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

 

Addressing the press conference, former MP Mr K.C. Tyagi and member of the Executive Committee of Parliamentarians for Al Quds (Jerusalem) said: “We should look at this issue from a humanitarian perspective, not a religious one. The current conflict and Palestinian protests in Jerusalem are due to Israel's aggressive expansionist policies and actions on the ground. The current unrest erupted when the Israeli government, in violation of all international laws and treaties, launched a campaign to forcibly evict the Palestinians living in Sheikh Jarrah and other neighborhoods near Al-Aqsa Mosque. We welcome the announcement by Mr. TS Tirumurti, India's Representative to the UN Security Council, that India fully supports the just cause of Palestine”.

 

Acting General Secretary of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, who also convened the PC, pointed out that: “The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy place for Muslims all over the world and their religious sentiments are associated with it. The city of Al Quds (Jerusalem) is important for three major religions of the world. Therefore, Israel has no authority to change the demography or status of the city and its structures”.

 

President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Syed Sadatullah Husaini urged: “All justice-loving countries of the world should not merely condemn this blatant aggression, but also to take all the steps that the United Nations Charter entitles them for seeking appropriate action against hostile and lawless nations. They must pressurize Israel and impose strict economic and diplomatic sanctions against it. The Zionist rulers and soldiers of Israel must be indicted and put on trial for war crimes in the International Court of Justice for their atrocities in Gaza and other Palestinian territories”.

 

Fully endorsing the position of ‘Indian Friends for Palestine’, former parliamentarian and General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, Maulana Mahmood Madani said: "The main reason for most of the Palestinian protests and intifadas (resistance movements) are the unprovoked attacks on Gaza by Israel, its daily atrocities against Palestinian civilians, and its covert and open diplomatic activities in the Middle East. Israel has been violating many UN resolutions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even in bilateral agreements, Israel has a history of backtracking on its commitments. Israeli political class and its rulers intensify their aggression from time to time to subvert focus from their local political problems".

 

Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Sajjad Nomani pointed out that: “These heinous acts are being concealed from the world and attempts are being made to publicize the Palestinian resistance operations unilaterally. The way journalists are being targeted and their offices being demolished to keep the world unaware of the truth and facts on the ground is a serious challenge to the whole free world. I call upon all justice loving countries including the Arab world to take the lead in resolving this crisis as soon as possible".

 

General Secretary of All India Milli Council Dr. Manzoor Alam said: "The immediate solution to this problem is to swiftly end the Israeli occupation of Al-Quds and other occupied Palestinian territories and to force Israel to stop all its cruel and aggressive intentions and actions. The United Nations must play its role in stopping Israel. Israel's actions are illegal, against all international treaties and equivalent to war crimes against the whole world".

 

Addressing the press conference, rector of Darul UloomWaqf Deoband Maulana Muhammad Sufyan Qasmi has said that he supported the stand taken by the group and hops that the Palestinians get justice and are liberated from the illegal occupation of Israel.

 

Others who also addressed the online press conference include Maharishi Goswami SushilJi Maharaj, Dr. M D Thomas, General Secretary of Press Club of India Mr. Vinay Kumar, and senior journalist and commentator Mr. Santosh Bhartiya.

 

Full text of the Joint Statement:

We strongly condemn Israel's aggression and barbaric atrocities against Palestinian civilians. These violent attacks are now being carried out by Israel almost every year. Israel's intentions regarding the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the entire Jerusalem have not been sincere since the day it occupied the land of Palestine. It wants to occupy a large area of West Bank and completely annex Al Quds (Jerusalem) as well. It is working towards changing the historical character, geography and demography of Palestine.

The current conflict and Palestinian protests in Jerusalem are due to Israel's aggressive expansionist policies and actions on the ground. The current unrest erupted when the Israeli government, in violation of all international laws and treaties, launched a campaign to forcibly evict the Palestinians living in Sheikh Jarrah and other neighbourhoods near Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian homes and lands, displacing native Palestinian and new colonies of Israeli settlers are being established here. The Palestinians responded to these aggressive intentions of the Zionist regime and fought back this new series of forcible evictions and atrocities.

The main reason for most of the Palestinian protests and intifadas (resistance movements) are the unprovoked attacks on Gaza by Israel, its daily atrocities against Palestinian civilians, and its covert and open diplomatic activities in the Middle East. Israel has been violating many UN resolutions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even in bilateral agreements, Israel has a history of backtracking on its commitments. Israeli political class and its rulers intensify their aggression from time to time to subvert focus from their local political problems. Thus, Israel has a long history of all these atrocities.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy place for Muslims all over the world and their religious sentiments are associated with it. The city of Al Quds (Jerusalem) is important for three major religions of the world. Therefore, Israel has no authority to change the demography or status of the city and its structures.  Israel's actions are illegal, against all international treaties and equivalent to war crimes against the whole world.

These heinous acts are being concealed from the world and attempts are being made to publicize the Palestinian resistance operations unilaterally. The way journalists are being targeted and their offices being demolished to keep the world unaware of the truth and facts on the ground is a serious challenge to the whole free world. We support the way our country's reputable media organizations, the Editors Guild of India, the Press Association and Press Club of India, etc. have condemned it and call on media organizations around the world to speak with one voice against this barbarism.

The immediate solution to this problem is to swiftly end the Israeli occupation of Al-Quds and other occupied Palestinian territories and to force Israel to stop all its cruel and aggressive intentions and actions.

We call on Arab and Muslim countries to unite and come forward to protect Palestine and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to play an active diplomatic role in forcing Israel to desist from these atrocities.

We call on all justice-loving countries of the world not to merely condemn this blatant aggression, but also to take all the steps that the United Nations Charter entitles them for seeking appropriate action against hostile and lawless nations. They must pressurize Israel. Impose strict economic and diplomatic sanctions against it. The Zionist rulers and soldiers of Israel must be indicted and put on trial for war crimes in the International Court of Justice for their atrocities in Gaza and other Palestinian territories.

The Government of India has always been against the expansionist ambitions of the colonial powers and under this policy, it has always supported the Palestinian liberation movement and the rights of the oppressed Palestinians. We welcome the announcement by Mr. TS Tirumurti, India's Representative to the UN Security Council, that India fully supports the just cause of Palestine. We rightfully expect and demand that our government, in keeping with this historic declaration, play a key and effective role in ending Israel's oppression of Palestine.

The signatories to the joint statement:

·       Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Acting General Secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

·       Mr K. C. Tyagi, Member of Executive Committee of Parliamentarians for Al Quds.

·       Maharishi Bhrigu Pithadhishwar GoswamiSushil Ji Maharaj, National Convener of Bhartiya Sarva Dharma Sansad.

·       Dr. M D Thomas, Founder Director of Institute of Harmony & Peace Studies, New Delhi.

·       Mr. Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

·       Maulana MahmoodMadani, General Secretary of JamiatUlema-i-Hind.

·       Maulana Muhammad Sufyan Qasmi,  Rector of Darul UloomWaqf Deoband.

·       Dr. Manzoor Alam, General Secretary, All India Milli Council.

·       Maulana Khalil-ur-Rehman Sajjad Nomani, Director, Imam Shah Waliullah Academy.

·       Mr. Vinay Kumar, General Secretary of Press Club of India.

·       Mr. Santosh Bhartiya, senior journalist and commentator.