Sonia Gandhi criticized the Modi government’s silence on Israeli attacks on Gaza and Iran, calling it a “surrender of values.” Urging a return to diplomacy in West Asia, she highlighted India’s moral responsibility, strategic ties, and need for peace to protect national interest and humanitarian principles.
In a strongly-worded article, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has delivered a scathing critique of the Modi government’s foreign policy, specifically its silence on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel’s recent military escalation against Iran. Describing this silence as a “surrender of values,” Gandhi accused the government of abandoning India’s long-standing diplomatic and moral traditions.
In her article, published on Saturday in a national newspaper, Gandhi expressed deep concern over India’s apparent inaction and absence of a clear stance on two of the most volatile conflicts currently unfolding in West Asia. She called for immediate course correction, emphasizing that it is still not too late “to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue in West Asia.”
Gandhi asserted that New Delhi’s silence is particularly disconcerting in the face of “this humanitarian catastrophe.” She said the government has distanced itself from India’s historical and principled support for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict — one that envisions a sovereign Palestinian state existing peacefully alongside Israel.
“This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values,” Gandhi wrote, pointing to what she described as a significant shift away from India’s established diplomatic stance. She also criticized the government for its failure to speak out against what she termed Israel’s “unprovoked escalation” against Iran.
Highlighting India’s historical and cultural ties with Iran, Gandhi urged the Modi government to act with moral clarity and diplomatic foresight. “Iran has deep civilizational links with India,” she noted, adding that this relationship further reinforces India’s obligation to help de-escalate the situation in the region.
She argued that India’s strategic relations with both Israel and Iran place the country in a unique position to act as a bridge for peace. “This unique position gives our country the moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace,” she wrote. Gandhi also reminded the government of the millions of Indians living and working in West Asia, saying that ensuring regional peace is not only a diplomatic concern but a matter of national interest.
Taking a strong stance against Israel’s actions, she said, “Israel’s recent actions against Iran have taken place in an atmosphere of impunity, enabled by near-unconditional support from powerful Western nations.” Gandhi expressed alarm over what she described as the disproportionate and catastrophic response by Israel in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas.
While the Congress party unequivocally condemned the Hamas attacks, she asserted that remaining silent in the face of massive Palestinian casualties is unjustifiable. “More than 55,000 Palestinians have lost their lives. Entire families, neighborhoods, and even hospitals have been obliterated. Gaza stands on the brink of famine, and its civilian population continues to suffer unspeakable hardship,” Gandhi noted.
She further criticized Israel for what she called “double standards” on nuclear weapons. Israel, she claimed, continues to retain its nuclear arsenal while targeting Iran—a nation that remains a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—for its alleged nuclear ambitions.
Gandhi also took aim at former U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of hypocrisy. While he previously criticized American involvement in endless wars and warned against the influence of the military-industrial complex, she said he now appears willing to follow a “destructive path.” Referring to Trump’s June 17 statement dismissing his intelligence chief’s assessment and alleging that Iran was “very close” to acquiring nuclear weapons, she called the remarks “deeply disappointing.”
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“The world expects and needs leadership that is grounded in facts and driven by diplomacy, not by force or falsehoods,” she concluded.
Sonia Gandhi’s critique is one of the most direct condemnations of India’s foreign policy from a major opposition leader in recent times. Her remarks not only challenge the Modi government’s international stance but also reignite a broader debate about India’s role and responsibilities in promoting peace and stability in West Asia.
