Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 19: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has strongly condemned Israel's recent airstrikes on Gaza, describing the military offensive as an act of "cold-blooded murder."
The Israeli airstrikes, which targeted multiple locations across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, marked a significant escalation in violence after the ceasefire that began on January 19. The renewed attack followed the collapse of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Medical sources in Gaza reported that more than 350 people were killed and over 150 others injured, with casualties concentrated in northern Gaza, Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Priyanka Gandhi expressed her outrage, stating, "The cold-blooded murder of over 400 innocent civilians, including 130 children, by the Israeli government shows that humanity means nothing to them. Their actions reflect an inherent weakness and inability to face their own truth."
She also criticized the response of Western nations, saying, "Whether Western powers choose to recognize this or acknowledge their collusion in the genocide of the Palestinian people or not, all citizens of the world who have a conscience (including many Israelis), see it."
Priyanka further expressed that Israel's increasing military actions reveal their true nature: "The more criminally the Israeli government acts, the more they reveal themselves for the cowards they truly are. On the other hand, the bravery of the Palestinian people prevails. They have endured unimaginable suffering, yet their spirit remains resilient and unwavering."
Israel has defended the strikes, stating that the military action was a response to Hamas's refusal to release hostages and its rejection of ceasefire proposals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that Israel was intensifying its military operations, with an objective to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The recent escalation follows the breakdown of ceasefire talks, with Israel seeking to extend the initial phase of the truce and Hamas pushing for the second phase, which included further hostage exchanges.
Under the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas is still holding around 59 hostages.