Delhi Police detained several prominent activists, including economist Jean Dreze and Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Annie Raja, during a silent demonstration in solidarity with the people of Palestine at the APJ Abdul Kalam crossing in New Delhi. The activists had informed the police about their protest beforehand, yet were detained during the event, according to the organisers.

Annie Raja, in a social media post, described how a group of activists and leaders from various organisations had staged a peaceful march in solidarity with Palestine on Nagasaki Day, and she noted that the Delhi Police had detained them and taken them to Mandir Marg Police Station.

The CPI, in a separate statement, criticised the detentions, stating that the police had detained Raja, Dreze, and several other peace activists for protesting against what they termed as Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians. The party emphasised that India’s official stance has been in support of Palestine and condemned the actions of the Delhi Police.

The protest, organised by the collective Indians for Palestine, was a call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It began in the Khan Market area but was halted by police as it approached the Israeli Embassy. The protestors, including social scientists and activists, urged the Indian government to sever ties with Israel, citing Israel’s attacks on Palestine in response to a Hamas strike on October 7, which many have labelled as genocidal.

In a statement released after their detention, the activists accused the Indian government and certain companies of being complicit in the ongoing violence in Gaza. They highlighted the involvement of companies like Adani Defence and Aerospace Ltd., Munitions India, and Premier Explosive, as well as the government’s approval of militarised cargo shipments and the deployment of Indian workers to Israel, actions they believe put lives at risk.

The protesters also pointed out that India is bound by international laws and treaties, including the Genocide Convention, which require the country to take steps to prevent genocide. They argued that this legal obligation should prevent India from exporting military equipment to Israel, especially if there is a serious risk that these weapons could be used to commit war crimes. The activists called for an immediate halt to arms supplies to Israel and the suspension of official ties between India and Israel.

Additionally, the protesters urged Indians to boycott companies and products that support the illegal occupation of Palestine, aligning themselves with the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.