New Delhi, 21 June

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday strongly criticised India's silence on Israel's devastation in Gaza and Iran as "not just a loss of its voice, but also a surrender of values".

In an article - "It is still not too late for India's voice to be heard", she accused the Narendra Modi government of abandoning India's long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-nation solution envisioning an independent Palestine along with Israel.

Gandhi, in the article, was also critical of US President DonaldTrump for following a "destructive path" in West Asia, after having spoken against America's endless wars.

"New Delhi's silence on the devastation in Gaza and now on the unprovoked escalation against Iran reflects a disturbing departure from our moral and diplomatic traditions. This represents not just a loss of voice but also a surrender of values," the Congress leader said in her article in 'The Hindu'.

"It is still not too late. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue in West Asia," Gandhi asserted.

She also said that in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe, "the Narendra Modi government has all but abandoned India's long-standing and principled commitment to a peaceful two-state solution, one that envisions a sovereign, independent Palestine living side-by-side with Israel in mutual security and dignity."

Sonia Gandhi noted that on 13 June, 2025, the world has, once again, "witnessed the dangerous consequences of unilateral militarism when Israel launched a deeply troubling and unlawful strike against Iran and its sovereignty".

She said the Indian National Congress has condemned these bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, which represents a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences.

"As with so many of Israel's recent actions, including its brutal and disproportionate campaign in Gaza, this operation was executed with utter disregard for civilian lives and regional stability. These actions will only deepen instability and sow the seeds of further conflict," she noted.

Gandhi also alleged that the current Israeli leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "has a long and unfortunate record of undermining peace and nurturing extremism". She alleged that given the record, "it is not surprising that Netanyahu would choose escalation over engagement".

Referring to the US President, she said, Trump's statement of 17 June dismissing its own intelligence chief's assessment and claiming that Iran was "very close" to acquiring nuclear weapons is "deeply disappointing".

"The world expects and needs leadership that is grounded in facts and driven by diplomacy, and not by force or falsehoods," she said.

Gandhi said Iran has been a long-standing friend to India and is bound to us by deep civilisational ties.

"It has a history of steadfast support, including in Jammu and Kashmir at crucial junctures. In 1994, Iran helped block a resolution critical of India at the UN Commission on Human Rights on the Kashmir issue," she noted. "Indeed, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been much more cooperative with India than its predecessor, the Imperial State of Iran, that had tilted towards Pakistan in the 1965 and 1971 wars," she added.

Referring to the India-Israel strategic relations in recent decades, she said, "This unique position gives our country the moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace."

"This is not simply an abstract principle. Lakhs of Indian citizens are living and working across West Asia, which makes peace in the region an issue of vital national interest.

"Israel's recent actions against Iran have taken place in an atmosphere of impunity, enabled by near-unconditional support from powerful western nations," Gandhi said.

She said while the Indian National Congress unequivocally condemned the "absolutely horrific and totally unacceptable attacks" by Hamas on 7 October, 2023, "we cannot remain silent in the face of Israel's catastrophic and disproportionate response.