Kharge criticises Hamas attacks as well as Israel’s bombing of civilian areas in Gaza
Days after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) reaffirmed the party’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause without mentioning Hamas’s attack on Israel, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge did a balancing act Thursday, mentioning the Palestinian militant group and its “brutal attacks” while calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid to the “beleaguered people of Gaza.”
The party was concerned by the phrasing of the October 9 CWC resolution, which contained no mention of Hamas or the phrase “terrorism.”
In a statement, Kharge stated that the “indiscriminate bombing on the hospital in Gaza and residential areas resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives of innocent men, women and children is both unjustifiable and a grave humanitarian tragedy for which the perpetrators must be held accountable.”
He stated that the Congress “condemned the brutal attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel” on October 8. He was referring to the Congress’ official response, which was given by the party’s communication director, Jairam Ramesh. There was no mention of Hamas or terror in Ramesh’s reaction.
In addition to the Hamas attacks, Kharge stated that “indiscriminate actions by Israel’s military forces in civilian areas, including a siege of the Gaza Strip and bombings in it,”
