"Totally unacceptable": Jairam Ramesh demands Centre to take serious exception to Israel envoy's response on Priyanka Gandhi

New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday strongly condemned the Israeli Ambassador's response to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks on the Gaza conflict.
He condemned the Israeli Ambassador, Reuvan Azar's words, stating that they are "totally unacceptable". He also criticised the Modi government for its "extreme moral cowardice" in not speaking out against Israel's actions in Gaza. He demanded that the Indian government take serious exception to the Ambassador's response.
"The Indian National Congress condemns the words used by Israel's Ambassador to India in response to the pain and anguish expressed by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MP, on Israel's continuing genocide in Gaza. It is too much to expect the Modi Govt, which has shown extreme moral cowardice when it comes to speaking out on Israel's destruction of Gaza over the past 18-20 months, to take serious exception and objection to the Ambassador's response. We do and find it totally unacceptable," Jairam Ramesh wrote on 'X'.
This comes after Priyanka Gandhi expressed her pain and anguish over Israel's actions in Gaza, calling it a "genocide" and stating that the Israeli state has "murdered over 60,000 people, 18,430 of whom were children". She also criticised the Central government's silence on the issue, finding it "shameful".
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had tweeted, "The Israeli state is committing genocide. It has murdered over 60,000 people, 18,430 of whom were children. It has starved hundreds to death including many children and is threatening to starve millions." She further condemned global silence, stating, "Enabling these crimes by silence and inaction is a crime in itself," and criticised the Indian government, adding, "It is shameful that the Indian Government stands silent as Israel unleashes this devastation on the people of Palestine."
In a post on X, she wrote, "The cold-blooded murder of five Al Jazeera journalists is yet another heinous crime committed on Palestinian soil. The immeasurable courage of those who dare to stand for the truth will never be broken by the violence and hatred of the Israeli state. In a world where much of the media is enslaved to power and commerce, these brave souls reminded us of what true journalism is. May they rest in peace."
The Israeli Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, responded to Priyanka Gandhi's remarks, saying, "What is shameful is your deceit. Israel killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists". He also claimed that Hamas hides behind civilians and that Israel has facilitated 2 million tonnes of food into Gaza.
In response to Gandhi Vadra's remarks, Azar said, "What is shameful is your deceit. Israel killed 25,000 Hamas terrorists. The terrible cost in human lives derives from Hamas's heinous tactics of hiding behind civilians, their shooting of people trying to evacuate or receive assistance and their rocket fire."
He also highlighted Israel's humanitarian efforts, saying, "Israel facilitated 2 million tonnes of food into Gaza while Hamas tries to sequester them, thereby creating hunger."
Addressing demographic concerns raised indirectly by the accusations, Azar added, "The Gaza population has grown 450% in the last 50 years, no genocide there."
He concluded with a caution to the international community, urging, "Don't buy Hamas numbers." (ANI)