The Congress Party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) resolution on the Israel-Palestine conflict is in line with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and reiterates the party’s support for Palestinian human rights, according to the former Nagaland minister and Congress veteran K Therie.
It may be mentioned here that the Congress in its resolution passed by the CWC, the party’s highest decision-making body on Monday, has said that it reiterates its “long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people.”
Therie issued a press statement on Wednesday, strongly condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel and calling for peace and justice. He said that the Congress Party’s resolution is about the Palestinians’ human rights and not about Hamas.
“I strongly condemn Hamas’ attack for raining 7,000 rockets and killing peaceful innocent civilians rampantly,” Therie said. He emphasized that Hamas’ actions have escalated the situation into a full-fledged war, resulting in a staggering toll of over 1,500 lives lost and more than 6,000 people injured in just four days.
Therie wished that major nations refrained from taking sides in the conflict and instead make efforts to “restore peace and sustain justice.”
Therie further said that the dispute between Israel and Palestine is not a new subject and is in the court of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) constituted by the UN, adding that the CWC resolution was in line with the ICJ, underlining the importance of safeguarding the human rights of Palestinians, distinct from the actions of Hamas.
“It is the duty of big nations to mediate if the Court directives are difficult,” Therie said. “There is always a way to find peace if there is the will.”
Therie also said that it is the bounden duty of every UNO member to stand by the ICJ and that it is right for India to stand by ICJ. He said that the objective of India should be for peace and justice and that the country wants peace, not war.
The CWC on Monday in its resolution expressed dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East.
“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 resolution read.
The CWC resolution reiterating the party’s support to Palestinians came a day after the party MP and general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) took a similar position.
Ramesh said that the party condemns the “brutal attacks” on the people of Israel but added that the party has always believed that the “legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people.”