A Fierce Political Flashpoint
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has ignited a sharp diplomatic exchange after accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza amid its prolonged conflict with Hamas. Her remarks, laced with pointed criticism of the Modi government’s silence, drew an equally forceful rebuttal from Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar.
The verbal sparring comes as the Israel–Hamas war, now stretching into its 22nd month, continues to cause unprecedented civilian suffering in the enclave, while political tempers flare far beyond the region.
Priyanka’s Stinging Allegations
On Tuesday, Vadra—representing Kerala’s Wayanad constituency—issued a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Israel of killing more than 60,000 people, including 18,430 children, and starving “hundreds to death.” She alleged that millions were under threat of famine and called the silence of the Indian government “shameful.”
In a separate statement, she condemned the deaths of five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, describing their killing as another “heinous crime” and praising their “immeasurable courage” to report from the front lines despite danger.
The Israeli Envoy’s Counterattack
Ambassador Reuven Azar wasted no time in rejecting the Congress leader’s claims. In a direct response on X, he accused Vadra of “deceit” and urged her not to “buy Hamas numbers.”
Azar asserted that Israel had eliminated 25,000 Hamas fighters and blamed the militant group’s tactics for civilian casualties. According to him, Hamas deliberately positions its operations in civilian areas, fires rockets from populated zones, and even targets those attempting to evacuate or receive aid.
“Israel facilitated two million tonnes of food into Gaza while Hamas tries to confiscate it, thereby creating hunger,” Azar wrote, adding that Gaza’s population had grown by 450% over the past five decades—evidence, he argued, that disproves genocide claims.
The Broader War Context
The conflict’s current phase began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s military retaliation has since devastated much of Gaza, with Palestinian authorities claiming over 60,000 deaths and almost the entire population displaced.
Israel maintains that its goal is to dismantle Hamas’s operational capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently signalled plans for another major offensive targeting Hamas strongholds; even as humanitarian agencies warn of a spiralling hunger crisis.
The UN’s Frustration
The United Nations has repeatedly flagged obstacles to aid delivery in Gaza. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said earlier this week that delays in Israeli security clearances for humanitarian missions were wasting “precious time” in delivering food, fuel, and medical supplies. Coordination requests for 16 missions were reportedly pending, including shipments from the operational crossings at Kareem Shalom and Zikim.
Media Freedom and Narrative Battles
Vadra’s reference to the slain Al Jazeera journalists reflects another contested dimension of the conflict—control of the narrative. She accused Israel of trying to “break” the truth through “violence and hatred” and hailed the reporters as examples of “true journalism” in an era where much of the media, she argued, is “enslaved to power and commerce.”
Israel, for its part, contends that it does not target journalists deliberately and that many casualties occur because Hamas embeds itself in civilian environments, including press facilities.
A Clash Beyond Borders
The heated exchange between Vadra and Azar underscores how the Gaza war has spilled over into the political discourse of countries far from the battlefield. In India, the conflict resonates across party lines, often intertwined with foreign policy positions and domestic political calculations.
For the Modi government, the criticism poses a balancing act—maintaining strategic ties with Israel while upholding India’s historic support for Palestinian statehood and responding to domestic political sentiment.
Words That Echo in a War Zone
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s accusations and the Israeli envoy’s rebuttal highlight the intensity of the information and perception battle surrounding the Gaza conflict. Numbers, narratives, and moral claims are deployed as weapons alongside missiles and drones.
While Israel insists it is engaged in a fight against terrorism, critics like Vadra frame its military actions as indiscriminate and catastrophic for civilians. With the war grinding on and humanitarian conditions worsening, such exchanges are likely to persist—each side seeking to influence global opinion, each firmly entrenched in its version of truth.
In the end, regardless of where one stands politically, the enduring tragedy remains the same: tens of thousands of dead, millions displaced, and no clear path to peace. Until the guns fall silent, debates like this will continue to echo far beyond Gaza’s borders.
(With agency inputs)
