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‘Voices should be hushed when children sleep, not when they are being slaughtered. Silence is complicity’
Embassy of the State of Palestine in India, based in Delhi, has issued a statement saying that as Israel resumes its military assault on Gaza, over 2.2 million defenseless Palestinians are facing relentless bombardment that has claimed so far the lives of more than 50,000 Palestinians. the vast majority of them being women and children. The Israeli government, unconditionally backed by the United States, justifies the offensive under the pretext of securing the release of captives—a claim that does not hold up under scrutiny.
“Over the first 15 months of continuous attacks, Israel has failed to secure the captives’ release, instead killing dozens of them along with their guards. Even those who managed to escape were shot by Israeli forces. This war does nothing to ensure their safety; rather, it serves a broader political agenda—shielding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from political collapse.”
Beyond the humanitarian catastrophe, the war aligns with the declared goals of top Israeli officials to forcibly displace Palestinians and expand illegal settlements, the embassy stated. With a new US administration in place, it also serves as a tool for financial and strategic gain, fueling the vision of a ‘Middle East Riviera’.
“Within Israel, the war is understood as a means for Netanyahu to secure his political survival. His government faced imminent collapse as the Knesset was unlikely to pass the critical budget vote. Without the backing of Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu risked losing power by the end of March. Ben-Gvir conditioned his support on resuming the war, evacuating Palestinians, expanding settlements and dismissing both the Israelis Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Hours after the bombardment restarted, he rejoined the cabinet, securing Netanyahu’s hold on power,” the statement added.
On January 19, Israel signed a ceasefire agreement outlining a phased plan, including the release of captives and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. By the 16th day, negotiations for further stages were expected. However, Netanyahu refused to proceed, and on March 2, 2025, Israel halted aid deliveries to pressure new ceasefire terms. This blatant violation of the agreement compounded previous breaches, which had already resulted in over 100 Palestinian deaths.
“Ending the war would mean an inquiry into the October 7 events, a scenario Netanyahu seeks to avoid. Leaked information suggests that early warnings about suspicious movements near the separation fence were ignored. Furthermore, investigations are likely to reveal that much of the destruction and civilian casualties that morning were caused by Israeli forces themselves under the Hannibal Directive—a policy to prevent captives from falling into enemy hands, even at the cost of their lives.”
The war extends beyond Gaza, with Israel expanding its military operations in the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli forces have forcibly displaced over 37,400 Palestinians from refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams. Additionally, it plans to demolish 180 homes in Jenin and Nablus that signals a broader strategy of territorial control and demographic engineering.
“Resuming the war means a death sentence for tens of thousands more innocent people—both Palestinians and the remaining Israeli captives. The Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Republic of India call on the international community to take a firm stand in upholding international law and holding Israel, the occupying power accountable for its genocidal war…
“Voices should be hushed when children sleep, not when they are being slaughtered. Silence is complicity.”