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Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sonia Gandhi questions PM Modi's ‘shameful silence on Gaza genocide', urges him to ‘uphold India's values'
Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi has asserted that India must take a 'clear and bold' stance in favour of the people of Gaza, she accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of adopting a "shameful silence" on Israel's military action in the Palestinian territory. Congress leader Sonia Gandhi has written an article in a Hindi daily.(PTI File) She described Israel's actions as 'barbaric' and a 'genocide'. The PM's lack of clear stance for Gaza is "a cowardly betrayal of our constitutional values", she argued in an article published in the Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran on Monday, July 28. Also read | Push for two-state solution at UN meet as war in Gaza rages on In 1974, under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, India became the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. In 1988, India was among the first countries to officially recognise the State of Palestine, she noted. The Global South is once again looking to India for leadership, Gandhi said. The Rajya Sabha member urged Modi, thus, to speak out "clearly, boldly and forthrightly" on behalf of the legacy that India has long represented. Also read | France moves to recognise State of Palestine: Here's why She noted that nothing could justify Palestinian militant group Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, or its continued holding of Israeli hostages. "But as members of the international community — and more so as human beings — it is our responsibility to acknowledge that the Israeli government's response and reprisals against the civilian population of Gaza have not only been egregious, but downright criminal," she asserted in her article, headlined 'Gaza sankat par mookdarshak Modi sarkaar' ('Modi govt a mute spectator amid Gaza tragedy'). Also read | UN adopts resolution to end Israel's occupation of Palestine; India abstains More than 55,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, including 17,000 children, since the latest Israeli action began around two years ago, Gandhi said. Most residential buildings in Gaza have been razed to the ground and, she said, "the social fabric of Gaza has been completely shattered'. "The Israeli Defense Forces have imposed a military blockade on Gaza, deliberately and cruelly blocking the supply of medicines, food and fuel to the population," the former Congress chief wrote. "This strategy of forced starvation is undoubtedly a crime against humanity," Gandhi said, 'According to almost all objective assessments by experts on Israel's ongoing military occupation of Gaza, it is a campaign that amounts to genocide and aims to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip of Palestinians.' Sonia slams 'colonial mindset, greedy realty tycoons' Not naming names, she said the Israeli actions were to serve various objectives 'ranging from a colonial mindset to the selfish interests of a few greedy real estate tycoons'. Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump — the latter's family business is real estate — have spoken of clearing out Gaza and building a resort-like city there instead. She also wrote that the crisis has exposed the international system. Cites South Africa, Brazil, France 'UN General Assembly resolutions have been completely ignored… The International Court of Justice's order directing Israel to prevent acts of genocide… has also been completely ignored,' Gandhi said. The fight to protect the people of Gaza is now left to individual countries, she argued. She cited South Africa as having taken a 'bold step' in taking Israel to the International Court of Justice, and Brazil has now joined the effort. 'France has decided to recognise the Palestinian state, and countries like Britain and Canada have imposed sanctions on Israeli leaders,' she said. 'India must play its role like in the past' She pointed towards India's Directive Principles of State Policy that ask the government to 'promote international peace and security [and] foster respect for international law and treaty obligations'. As for long-term steps, she said India has been a supporter of the two-state solution and a 'just peace' between the people of Israel and Palestine. 'India has long been a symbol of global justice. We are the country that inspired global movements against colonialism… and led the international struggle against apartheid South Africa.' At a time when innocent people are being 'brutally slaughtered', she said, "India's abdication of its values is a blot on our national conscience, a disregard for our historical contributions, and also a cowardly betrayal of our constitutional values.' Her article comes a month after an unsigned piece in the party mouthpiece 'Congress Sandesh' termed the Modi government 'a failure on several levels' in the context of Gaza. Sonia's daughter, Lok Sabha member Priyanka Gandhi has been a vocal supporter of peace in Gaza.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Sonia Gandhi slams PM Modi's ‘shameful silence' on Gaza crisis; 'height of moral cowardice,' says Kharge
Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of adopting a "shameful silence" on Israel's military action in the Palestinian territory. In her article published in Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran, Gandhi said the Gaza conflict had "exposed one of the most serious vulnerabilities in the Global order and called on the Prime Minister to speak up against the killing of more than 55,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, in the territory. Gandhi recalled how in 1974, under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, India became the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. She also said that in the article in 1988, India was among the first countries to officially recognise the State of Palestine. The former Congress president urged Modi, thus, to speak out "clearly, boldly and forthrightly" on behalf of the legacy that India has long represented. Sonia also reiterated India being a "symbol of global justice" and inspiring anti-colonial movements, while raising a voice against imperialism, and specifically being a supporter of the two-state solution. She criticised the lack of action on United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, saying these have been "completely ignored." "But as members of the international community — and more so as human beings — it is our responsibility to acknowledge that the Israeli government's response and reprisals against the civilian population of Gaza have not only been egregious, but downright criminal," Sonia Gandhi wrote in her article titled – 'Gaza sankat par mookdarshak Modi sarkaar' ('Modi government a mute spectator amid Gaza tragedy'). Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge repeated the views of Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi,accusing the Modi government of being a "silent spectator in the Gaza crisis." It is our responsibility to acknowledge that the Israeli government's response has been downright criminal. In a post on X sharing a picture of the newspaper article, Kharge said, "This is the height of moral cowardice. The time has come for him to raise a strong voice, in clear and bold words, on behalf of the legacy that India has represented. Today, the Global South is once again awaiting India's leadership on this issue that shakes the collective conscience of all humanity."
Jordan News
6 days ago
- Business
- Jordan News
185,000 Jordanians Entered the Labor Market, 89,500 Exited in 2024 — Jordan Economic Forum - Jordan News
The Jordan Economic Forum released a fact sheet on Saturday titled 'New Jobs in Jordan in 2024: Where Are They Concentrated and Who Are They Created For?', analyzing net job creation as a key metric of the economy's ability to absorb new labor market entrants and reduce unemployment. اضافة اعلان According to the fact sheet, 184,926 individuals aged 15 and above joined the labor market in 2024, while approximately 89,584 exited, resulting in a net job creation of 96,421. This figure represents 96.4% of the annual target set under the Economic Modernization Vision, reflecting tangible efforts to foster sustainable employment and improve living standards. Gender & Sector Distribution Males accounted for 69.3% of the new jobs (66,804 jobs), while females made up 30.7% (29,617 jobs). 75.7% of jobs were created in the private sector, underscoring the impact of economic reforms. Public sector jobs made up 23.6% of the total. Jobs by Nationality The majority of the new jobs — 90% — went to Jordanian nationals, with 6.2% going to non-Jordanian Arabs and 3.7% to non-Arab foreigners, indicating a focus on employing the domestic workforce. Sectoral Breakdown The largest shares of new jobs were concentrated in: Manufacturing and wholesale/retail trade (each 15.4%) Public administration and defense (14.6%) Education (11.5%) Health (10.2%) This reflects a balanced contribution from both productive and service sectors, especially those with direct social impact. Geographic Distribution Amman led with 56.6% of net job creation. Zarqa followed with 11.6%, then Irbid with 9.5%. Ajloun had the lowest share at 0.4%. Unemployment Trends Despite progress, unemployment only dropped slightly from 22% in 2023 to 21.4% in 2024, suggesting that job creation — although near target — had a limited immediate impact on unemployment due to rising numbers of job seekers and graduates. Forum President's Remarks Forum Chairman Mazen Al-Hamoud stressed the need to: Continue supporting high-potential job-generating sectors. Invest in underdeveloped governorates. Focus on job quality and sustainability. He highlighted that the data indicates the Jordanian economy is becoming more dynamic in job creation, reflecting the positive outcomes of national policy and stimulus programs. However, continued effort is crucial to meet the broader goals of the Economic Modernization Vision, especially in integrating youth and new labor market entrants.
Malaysia Sun
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
India backs ceasefire and aid push in Gaza, calls for release of hostages at UNSC
By Reena Bhardwaj New York [US], July 24 (ANI): India has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, uninterrupted humanitarian aid and release of hostages to address the deepening crisis in the region. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council's quarterly open debate on the Middle East, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said that mere pauses in hostilities are not enough to address the worsening humanitarian situation. 'Intermittent pauses in hostilities are not enough to address the scale of humanitarian challenges confronting the people, who grapple daily with acute shortages of food and fuel, inadequate medical services and lack of access to education,' Harish said. He expressed concern over the collapsing healthcare and education systems in Gaza. 'WHO estimates that around 95 per cent of all hospitals in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that more than 6,50,000 children have had no schooling for over 20 months,' he said. Calling for urgent international action, Harish said, 'The ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue. Humanitarian assistance needs to be facilitated in a safe, sustained and timely manner. There is no substitute for peace. A ceasefire must be established. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions.' Harish also reiterated India's historic support to Palestine. 'India shares historic and strong ties with our Palestinian brothers and sisters. We have always stood by them, and our commitment towards the Palestinian cause is unwavering. We were the first non-Arab country to recognise the State of Palestine.' He said India is currently implementing development projects worth over USD 40 million to support Palestinian people through direct aid and partnerships with organisations like UNRWA. 'India reiterates that the pathway to enduring peace is rooted in a two-State solution, one that establishes a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace,' Harish said. He also welcomed the upcoming High-Level International Conference on the two-State solution, expressing hope it would lead to 'concrete steps' toward peace. 'India underscores its readiness to contribute to efforts that are aimed at shaping a political horizon that restores hope for the Palestinians and achieving sustained peace in the Middle East,' Harish added. Meanwhile, Israel categorically rejected statements made by several international organisations on the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza. In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry accused these organisations of 'serving the propaganda of Hamas.' 'These organisations are serving the propaganda of Hamas, using their numbers and justifying their horrors. Instead of challenging the terror organisation, they embrace it as their own,' the ministry said. Israel said such statements were harming ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire. 'In this critical time of negotiations, they are echoing Hamas's propaganda and harming the chances for a ceasefire.' According to the statement, nearly 4,500 trucks have entered Gaza carrying food, flour, and baby formula. Israel said over 700 aid trucks are currently inside Gaza but are waiting to be picked up by the UN. 'This bottleneck is the main obstacle to maintaining a consistent flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. For some, the obsession with attacking Israel is more important than helping the people of Gaza,' the statement said. (ANI)
The Hindu
24-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
India calls for ceasefire in Gaza, says intermittent pauses ‘not enough'
Voicing concern over the persisting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, India asserted that a ceasefire must be put in place, emphasising that 'intermittent pauses in hostilities' are "not enough" to address the scale of challenges facing the region's people. 'Today's meeting takes place against the backdrop of a persisting humanitarian crisis in Gaza," said India's Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, addressing an open debate in the UN Security Council on Wednesday (July 23, 2025). "Intermittent pauses in hostilities are not enough to address the scale of humanitarian challenges confronting the people, who grapple daily with acute shortages of food and fuel, inadequate medical services and lack of access to education,' said at the open debate on the 'Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question'. Underlining that the way ahead is clear, and highlighting India's consistent position in this regard, Mr. Harish said the ongoing human suffering must not be allowed to continue. 'Humanitarian assistance needs to be facilitated in a safe, sustained and timely manner. There is no substitute to peace. A ceasefire must be put in place. All hostages must be released. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable paths to achieving these objectives. There are no other fixes or solutions,' he said. He also expressed hope that an upcoming UN conference on the Israel-Palestine conflict would pave the way for 'concrete steps" towards achieving a two-State solution. Mr. Harish told the Council debate, held under Pakistan's presidency of the Security Council for the month of July, that India shares historic and strong ties with its Palestinian brothers and sisters. 'We have always stood by them and our commitment towards the Palestinian cause is unwavering,' he said, noting that India was the first non-Arab country to recognise the State of Palestine. Describing the health and education situation in Gaza as 'particularly troubling', Harish said the World Health Organisation estimates that around 95 per cent of all hospitals in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that more than 650,000 children have had no schooling for over 20 months, he said. Mr. Harish said that India takes note of the High-Level International Conference on the implementation of a two-State solution scheduled for July 28-30. 'While engaging in a forward-leaning and constructive manner, it is our hope that this conference would pave the way for concrete steps towards achieving a two-State solution,' Mr. Harish said. He said India underscores its readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at shaping a political horizon that restores hope for the Palestinians and achieving sustained peace in the Middle East. The high-level conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, was scheduled to take place from June 17-20 but was postponed due to escalating tensions in the region. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has stressed that it is essential to keep alive the two-State solution perspective 'with all the terrible things we are witnessing in Gaza and the West Bank. 'And for those that doubt about the two-state solution, I ask: What is the alternative? Is it a one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled or the Palestinians will be forced to live in their land without rights? That would be totally unacceptable. I firmly believe that it is the duty of the international community to keep the two-State solution alive and then to materialise the conditions to make it happen,' he had said. President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang has described the international conference as a crucial opportunity that 'we must seize to chart an irreversible path towards the implementation of the two-State solution. It is imperative that this conference succeeds.' India reiterated that the pathway to enduring peace is rooted in a two-State solution — one that establishes a sovereign, viable and independent State of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace. India's endeavour is to make a 'tangible impact' on the daily lives of the Palestinians by implementing projects in diverse sectors, and the country is currently implementing projects valued at more than $40 million, Harish said.
