This is not the first time that the Kerala government expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemning Israel's atrocities.
Published Nov 29, 2024 | 4:47 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 29, 2024 | 4:47 PM
Pinarayi Vijayan (X)
Reaffirming Kerala’s support and solidarity with the people of Palestine, CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday, 29 November, urged people across the world to say no to war crimes and stand with Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
The CM expressed his solidarity on the ‘International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People,’ observed every year on 29 November since 1978.
Taking to X to express the state’s support to Palestinians, who are “enduring heinous atrocities under the settler colonial regime of Israel,” the CM asked people to uphold the values of humanity and say no to war. He also asked the world to unite against the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
Expressing unwavering support & solidarity to the people of #Palestine enduring heinous atrocities under the settler colonial regime of Israel, with the support of imperialist powers. On this International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the world must unite…
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) November 29, 2024
Notably, this is not the first time that the Kerala government has come out in support of Palestine.
In June 2024, convening Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS), the LDF government expressed support for Palestine and its people. A resolution was passed condemning the atrocities committed by Israel and asking it to cease its destructive military actions.
During the session, a keffiyeh from the Palestinian embassy was presented to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and a Palestinian flag was handed over to Kerala Assembly Speaker A.N. Shamseer. The pro-Palestine resolution was among ten passed during the fourth edition of the LKS in 2024, as part of a broader commitment to peace and human rights.
Established in 2018, the LKS is described by the Kerala government as a global platform for Keralites living worldwide.
In October 2023, when the fight that led to the ongoing war roke out, top CPI(M) leaders including Kerala CM staged a dharna outside the AKG Bhawan office. The dharna condemned India’s abstention from voting on a UN General Assembly resolution that called for a humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The protest expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanded a ceasefire.
In November 2023, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) organised a mass rally in northern Kerala to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Thousands of people including Congress leaders, party workers, and people from various walks of life gathered at the Kozhikode beach to express support for the war-torn region.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) — a key ally in the opposition UDF — and several other parties have also conducted mass rallies in the past to protest Israel’s actions and highlight the ordeal Palestinians are put through.
The ongoing conflict in Palestine has its roots in the early 20th century, but the most recent phase of the war can be traced back to the fight that broke out between Israel and Hezbollah.
In October 2023, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented surprise attack, storming into nearby Israeli towns from the blockaded Gaza Strip. The assault resulted in dozens of deaths and numerous abductions. Outraged by it, Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza.
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
