CHENNAI: Taking part in an all-party protest gathering in Chennai organised by Communist Party of India (Marxist) to condemn the “genocide” in Gaza, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said the state Legislative Assembly will adopt a resolution on October 14,to condemn Israel for its attacks on Gaza.
He also said that the resolution will seek an immediate ceasefire and also request the Centre to take appropriate steps to that effect.
The Union government should make an attempt to put pressure on Israel and the countries that stand by it so that the genocide can be stopped, Stalin said on Wednesday.
“The indiscriminate attacks carried out by Israel on Gaza are shaking the hearts of all of us,” the chief minister said.
Stalin said the protest by CPI (M) is an attempt to unite people with humanitarian values, so that powers that be are urged to put an end to the attacks that blatantly violate international human rights laws and the principles of the United Nations.
The Chief Minister noted that over 50,000 people had been killed in the conflict, including 11,000 women, 17,000 children, 175 journalists and 125 UN employees. “Some 26,000 children have lost their parents. More than one lakh people injured in the war are receiving treatment in hospitals. A major part of Gaza has been completely destroyed. Yet, the people of Palestine continue to resist the Israeli invasion,” he said.
Stalin added the IDF had killed 45 people who were waiting for food supplies, an act that had deeply affected people around the world. “Volunteers from 47 countries carrying milk powder, food and relief materials were arrested. Can we remain silent spectators without condemning Israel’s actions, which violate international law?” he asked.
On September 8, in a social media post, Stalin had said that he was “shaken beyond words by what is unfolding in Gaza…when innocent lives are being crushed in this way, silence is not an option”.
The CPI (M) which had called for a ban on Israeli firms from participating in an ongoing conclave here on Aerospace and Defence, has urged the NDA government at the Centre to cancel all trade agreements with Israel.
