Saralnama
The Indian National Congress condemned Israel's mobilization of reservists for an expanded Gaza operation and its approval of a West Bank settlement project, describing both as unacceptable. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that Israel has begun military operations to take over Gaza City and announced plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank. The party strongly deplored the Modi government's silence on these actions. Israel's military confirmed calling up tens of thousands of reservists and extending service ahead of intensified operations in Gaza's densely populated areas, with Defence Minister Israel Katz approving a new phase of operations. The settlement project in the West Bank reportedly aims to divide the territory. Earlier, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused Israel of committing genocide and criticized the Indian government for remaining silent amid the devastation in Palestine, citing over 60,000 deaths, including 18,430 children, and starvation threats. The Congress has expressed solidarity with Palestinians and condemned Israel's actions in Gaza. This statement was issued on August 21, 2025, from New Delhi. (Updated 21 Aug 2025, 18:33 IST; source: link)