Shashi Tharoor refers Hamas as terrorists at IUML pro-Palestine rally

It may be recalled that the CWC in a resolution on October 9 had reaffirmed its support to the Palestinian cause without mentioning the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas on Israel.

“The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days. The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect. The CWC calls for an immediate cease-fire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues including the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict,” the CWC resolution had said.

However, the party did a course correction later when its spokesperson Pavan Khera condemned the Hamas attack on Israel. “The Congress unequivocally condemns the attack on the innocent civilians of Israel by Hamas,” Khera had said on October 13.

Referring to the present bout of war between Hamas and Israel, Tharoor said, “On October 7, terrorists attacked Israel, killed 1,400 people and took 200 hostages. In answer to that, Israel has so far killed 6,000 people. They have stopped the supply of food, water and fuel to Gaza. Hospitals are bombed. Innocent people are being killed every day. What is happening is the violation of war laws and Geneva Convention, which have provisions for protecting the innocent civilians.’’

He continued. “one thing I want to say. When those terrorists massacred unarmed people, the world had condemned it. Now, everyone is condemning the Israel bombing. Terrorist acts took place from both sides. Eye for eye would make the whole world blind. What we are seeing now is a heinous reaction. We are seeing a disproportionate reaction,’’ he said.

Tharoor said the death toll in the latest bout of crisis in the last 19 days is more than the casualty that took place in the last 15 years. “Around 1,400 Israelis and 6,000 Palestinians have been killed so far. The West Bank region had not witnessed any terrorism. However, 102 Palestine people and one Israeli were killed,” he said.

Tharoor said the issue should not be considered as a Muslim issue on the ground that the rally is being conducted by IUML, a secular and democratic party. “None should think that this is a Muslim issue. It is a matter of human rights. War knows no religion. Christians in Gaza were also killed in the bombing,’’ he said.

At the same venue, senior IUML leader and party legislator Dr M K Muneer, apparently took a dig at Tharoor.

Muneer, in his address, said, “When Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose fought for the freedom of the country, it was recorded in British history as an act of terrorism and extremism. At Gaza, the fight of Palestine for freedom would be an act of terrorism in the eye of imperialistic forces. But the children at Gaza now say that they were now offering namaz not five times a day, but six times. The children say every day they have ‘janaza’ (funeral prayer). The fight of Palestine is freedom struggle and that of Israel is genocide. We are with that defence of Palestine. We should be able to differentiate between defence and attack,’’ he said.

Since the latest crisis in the Middle East, both Congress and CPI(M) in Kerala have been treading cautiously on the issue, considering visible ‘pro-Palestine’ sentiments in the state. CPI(M) central committee member K K Shailaja had come under fire from within the party itself after she dubbed Hamas as terrorists. Later, she had to drop the “terror’’ tag from Hamas, in a clarification on her views on the crisis.