In a sharp diplomatic exchange, Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, on Tuesday responded strongly to Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks on the ongoing Gaza conflict. The war of words began after Priyanka Gandhi took to X, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Palestine and holding the Indian government accountable for remaining silent.

Priyanka Gandhi’s post alleged that the Israeli state has “murdered over 60,000 people, including 18,430 children”, and starved hundreds to death. She further claimed that Israel was “threatening to starve millions” in Gaza. She condemned what she termed the “Indian government’s silence”, calling it complicity in crimes against the Palestinian people.

“Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself. It is shameful that the Indian Government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine,” she posted.

Responding to these allegations, Ambassador Reuven Azar accused Priyanka Gandhi of engaging in “shameful deceit”. He claimed that Israel has killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists, not civilians, and that the high death toll in Gaza is a result of Hamas’s military tactics, which include hiding among civilians and attacking people during evacuation or aid distribution.

Azar further argued that Hamas’s actions deliberately create humanitarian crises, despite Israel having facilitated the delivery of 2 million tonnes of food into Gaza. He accused Hamas of seizing these supplies to manufacture hunger and increase international pressure on Israel.

“What is shameful is your deceit. Israel killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists. The terrible cost in human lives derives from Hamas’s heinous tactics of hiding behind civilians, their shooting of people trying to evacuate or receive assistance and their rocket fire,” Azar stated.

He also challenged the accuracy of casualty figures from Gaza, urging people not to rely on “Hamas numbers”, and noted that Gaza’s population has increased by 450% over the last 50 years, arguing that this contradicts claims of genocide.

The exchange highlights the deep political divide in India over its stance on the Israel–Palestine conflict. While the Indian government has maintained a largely diplomatic and balanced approach, certain political leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi, have openly criticised Israel’s military actions and called for stronger condemnation.

The Gaza conflict has been marked by intense violence, with Israel targeting Hamas infrastructure and Hamas continuing rocket fire into Israeli territory. Human rights groups and international observers remain divided over the casualty figures and the classification of Israel’s actions. While Israel asserts it is targeting militant infrastructure, critics argue that the civilian toll is too high to be justified as collateral damage.

Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks have drawn strong responses from both supporters and detractors. Pro-Palestinian voices in India view her statement as a necessary political stand against what they see as systematic oppression, while her critics accuse her of ignoring Hamas’s role in perpetuating violence.

Azar’s rebuttal underscores Israel’s official stance — that Hamas bears full responsibility for civilian suffering in Gaza due to its military strategies. The Israeli envoy’s statements also align with the broader diplomatic campaign by Israel to counter what it perceives as misinformation regarding the conflict.

As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the verbal sparring between Indian political leaders and Israeli officials reflects a wider geopolitical tension that extends beyond the battlefield, influencing diplomatic relationships, public opinion, and political discourse in India.

This exchange is likely to keep the debate alive in Indian political circles, especially as social media platforms amplify polarised narratives on the Israel–Palestine issue. The coming weeks may see further diplomatic and political responses, as the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and the conflict shows little sign of resolution.

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