Gaza: ex-civil servants slam Centre's 'weak, ambivalent response'

New Delhi: A group of retired civil servants of the central and All India Services has written the Prime Minister, Minister of External Affairs and Home Minister of India expressing outrage over the Israel’s genocide in Gaza and raising concern over India’s “weak and ambivalent response” to the Zionist nation’s cruelty on the Muslim nation of Palestine and its people.

The letter, written by the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG) and signed by 111 members, highlighted India’s “closet support for Israel”.

It read, “India’s response to this profound ethical, moral and existential challenge to humanity has sadly been not just disappointing but cynical, with the government issuing insincere expressions of support for the Palestinian cause on the one hand, while supporting, and sympathising with, Israel on the other.”

The letter said that New Delhi must reclaim its historic leadership in addressing colonial injustices.

The letter read, As a group, we have no political affiliation and are only interested in safeguarding constitutional and universal human values. We are writing today to express our outrage over the genocidal situation in Gaza perpetrated by Israel, and concern over India’s weak and ambivalent response.

“On October 7, 2023, against the backdrop of continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands since 1948, and a deep division in Israel over Prime Minister Netanyahu, on corruption, judicial and security issues, Hamas launched an attack on the south of Israel killing 1195 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostage. Israel retaliated with a grossly disproportionate and ferocious attack, unleashing violence and inhuman measures against Palestinians in Gaza on a scale unprecedented in recent history, in total violation of international laws of war and humanitarian standards,” the letter said.

“India’s response to this profound ethical, moral and existential challenge to humanity has sadly been not just disappointing but cynical, with the government issuing insincere expressions of support for the Palestinian cause on the one hand, while supporting, and sympathising with, Israel on the other. It has gone along with UN resolutions in 2023 and 2024 urging an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, asserted India’s support for the two-state solution, and called for extension of humanitarian aid to Gaza, but refused to condemn Israel’s disproportionate response to the October 7 attacks, or its brutal carnage against Palestinians in Gaza, or demand an unconditional ceasefire, the letter noted.