”‘Silence is complicity’: Indian Muslim leaders call Israel’s siege genocide, demand
”‘Silence is complicity’: Indian Muslim leaders call Israel’s siege genocide, demand India lead global action as Gaza starves
M.U.H
28/07/202543
Amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by Israel’s blockade and relentless bombing, leading Muslim organisations and scholars in India gathered on Monday at the Press Club of India to demand urgent intervention.
In a joint press conference, they called on the Indian government to go beyond diplomatic formalities and take a firm stand against what they termed the “genocide in Gaza.”
“Gaza is starving. Not acting at this point would be a historic crime,” said the leaders, warning of an impending famine as Israel’s blockade and bombardment continue to devastate civilian life in the besieged Palestinian territory.
The press meet brought together key figures from India’s most influential Muslim groups.
The speakers are Maulana Arshad Madani, President, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind,
Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, President, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Syed Sadatullah Husaini, President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maulana Ali Asghar Imam Mehdi, Ameer, Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees, Maulana Hakeemuddin Qasmi, General Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, Malik Moatasim Khan, Vice Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Abdul Hafeez, President, Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), Maulana Mohsin Taqvi, renowned Shia Islamic scholar and Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, former Chairman, Delhi Minorities Commission.
The joint statement described the crisis in Gaza as “an unprecedented humanitarian disaster,” highlighting the collapse of essential systems, widespread hunger, and a health infrastructure on the brink of total failure.
“Over 90% of hospitals and healthcare centres are bombed or non-functional. Entire neighborhoods have been erased. Families are surviving on scraps. Newborns are dying in incubators for lack of fuel. Doctors are performing surgeries without anesthesia. Every fundamental human system — health, education, nutrition, sanitation — has collapsed. This is not self-defense; it is the systematic annihilation of a people.”
The leaders acknowledged India’s recent statement at the UN General Assembly calling for a ceasefire and reaffirming support for a sovereign Palestinian state.
“We welcome our country’s recent statement… It is a positive step,” they said. “But India must go beyond words. It must denounce the bombing of civilians, the targeting of hospitals and schools, and the collective punishment of Gaza’s population.”
They called on India to lead the global moral response, urging the suspension of all military and strategic cooperation with Israel until the attacks end.
“India has a proud legacy of standing with the oppressed. We must honour that legacy now by acting decisively. Silence and neutrality are not options when genocide is unfolding before our eyes.”
Appealing to the broader public, the statement emphasized that solidarity with Palestine transcends religion: “Palestine is not merely a Muslim concern. It is a humanitarian concern — a matter of universal justice and human dignity. We urge students, civil society, faith leaders, academics, and all conscientious citizens to raise their voices… Gaza must not be forgotten.”
The speakers also condemned the repression of Palestine solidarity in some parts of India: “Support for Palestine is not extremism. It is a defense of international law, of basic human rights, and of the very values enshrined in our Constitution. Citizens must be free to express their conscience without intimidation or fear.”
In a direct message to Muslim-majority nations, the collective demanded decisive international action: “We urge Muslim countries to cut diplomatic and economic ties with Israel and form a united front demanding an end to this barbarism.”
The conference concluded with a resounding demand for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian corridors to deliver life-saving aid — food, water, fuel, and medical supplies — to Gaza’s civilians.
