A number of Muslim leaders and organisations in India have condemned the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. The renewed attacks have so far claimed about 500 innocent lives. President Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind Maulana Arshad Madani strongly condemned the Israeli attacks on the unarmed Palestinians in Gaza. He termed it as “state terrorism” of Israel. Expressed concern over the ever increasing Israel’s aggressions, he demanded from the Indian government to immediately scrap all diplomatic relations with Israel. Maulana Madani drew the government’s attention towards the illegal activities of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad when he claimed, “Activities of Mossad are threat to our nation’s security and integrity”.
Leader of JUH Maulana Mahmood Madani called this act of aggression by Israel “the profound terrorism of the state of Israel” and demanded immediate end to such acts of terrorism on the unarmed Palestinians. He appealed to the United Nations Organisation (UNO) to act tough against Israel by taking necessary action.
General Secretary of JUH (Gurgaon) Maulana Yahya Kareemi asked the Indian government to review diplomatic ties with Israel in the wake of the attacks. He was of the view, “Indian government must immediately denounce Israel’s aggressive policies and put pressure on Israel not to indulge in such inhuman activities in future.”
Imam of Shahi Jama Masjid Delhi Maulana Syed Ahmad Bukhari, referring to the air strikes, blamed the Western Powers of applying double standards on terrorism which is the real cause of the rising pace of terrorism at the global level. Maulana Bukhari maintained, “If the US and other Western Powers continue to support Israel then peace and harmony cannot be established in the world.” He urged the Muslim world “not to remain the tailpiece of the West and come forward to support the innocent and unarmed Palestinians.”
Imam of Shahi Masjid Fatehpuri Maualana Mufti Dr. Mohammad Mukarram also expressed anguish at the loss of hundreds of innocent lives including women, children in the recent air assaults by the Israeli forces in Gaza. He felt utterly disappointed over Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s statement that the sphere of attacks would be further widened. He demanded severe action and UN sanctions against Israel. Mufti Mukarram appealed to the Arab countries to come forward to resolve the Palestinian crisis and stop Israeli aggression on the Palestinian land. Mufti Mukarram also called upon the Indian Muslims to register their strong protest against the Israeli air strikes in the occupied territories.