Sonia Gandhi Accuses Modi Government of Silence on Gaza Conflict

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi criticised the Indian government on Saturday, June 27, 2026, for what she described as its lack of response to the conflict in Gaza. In an article published in The Indian Express, Gandhi, who serves as Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, said the government's stance has strained India's ties with traditional allies and ceded diplomatic space to Pakistan.

Gandhi wrote that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel ahead of a joint U.S.-Israel attack on Iran was a 'bewildering strategic decision.' She argued that India's national interest demands it speak up for Palestinians, citing global public opinion against Israeli actions.

The Congress leader referred to a September 2025 report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which concluded that Israeli authorities were committing genocide in Gaza. She also cited a June 2026 report by the same commission, now headed by retired Indian judge S. Muralidhar, which reiterated that Israeli actions were intended to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.

According to Gandhi, the report states that at least 20,000 children have been killed and 44,000 wounded, with many suffering life-altering injuries. She claimed that the targeting of children was deliberate, noting that 27% of those killed or wounded were children and that 97% of Gaza's schools had been destroyed. Healthcare infrastructure, including paediatric hospitals, has also been devastated, leading to a 300% increase in miscarriages and childbirth complications, she said.

Gandhi condemned the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel as 'dastardly, horrific, and absolutely unacceptable,' but asserted that Israel's retaliation has been marked by 'wanton cruelty and barbarity.' She quoted Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called for a 'complete siege' and 'total annihilation' of Gaza, and denounced Palestinians as 'animals.'

She noted that the United States under President Donald Trump has enabled Israel's campaign, while other Western powers like France, the UK, Canada, and Australia have recognised Palestinian statehood. The UN, she said, has been unable to act due to American obstruction but has documented war crimes through its agencies. South Africa, she pointed out, has taken a leading role in advocating for Palestinians.

Gandhi argued that India's silence is 'morally reprehensible' and 'inexplicable from a national interest perspective,' and that the spirit of Indian nationhood demands support for Palestinians. The article represents her personal views and those of her party.