AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, accused Israel of deliberately killing thousands of children, imposing famine on civilians, and ethnically cleansing large parts of Palestine — and warned that nations standing with Israel would 'come to regret it.'

Context

In a post on X, Owaisi wrote: 'Israel has deliberately killed thousands of children, imposed famine on a civilian population, and ethnically cleansed large parts of Palestine. Israel will have to answer for these crimes. If not today, then soon. Those who have chosen to shamelessly stand with Israel will come to regret it.'

The statement is among the sharpest yet from the Hyderabad MP, who has consistently criticised Israeli military operations in Palestinian territories and called on India to distance itself from Tel Aviv. The post carries an attached video, though its contents have not been independently detailed in available information.

Policy Backdrop

India recognised Palestinian statehood in 1988 and has voted in favour of Palestinian positions at the United Nations, including the 2012 UNGA resolution 67/19 granting Palestine non-member observer state status. At the same time, successive Indian governments have deepened bilateral ties with Israel across defence, agriculture, and technology sectors.

The BJP-led government elevated the relationship to a 'strategic partnership' during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 2017 visit to New Delhi, even as it maintained rhetorical support for a two-state solution. This dual-track approach has drawn sustained criticism from opposition parties, particularly AIMIM, which has framed India's tilt toward Israel as a departure from its traditional non-aligned posture.

Stakeholders and Impact

Owaisi's remarks carry domestic political weight, particularly among Indian Muslim voters for whom the Palestinian cause holds deep moral and religious significance. AIMIM, which Owaisi has led since 2008, has consistently used the Palestine issue to highlight what it describes as the ruling establishment's selective silence on Muslim suffering globally.

Foreign policy commentators note that statements of this kind place pressure on the Indian government to publicly clarify its position on the Gaza conflict at multilateral forums. India's vote on any forthcoming UNGA or UNHRC resolutions related to Gaza will be watched closely by both domestic constituencies and international observers.

What's Next

The international legal and diplomatic reckoning Owaisi alludes to — accountability for alleged war crimes — points to ongoing proceedings at institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, where cases relating to the Gaza conflict have been active. Whether India aligns itself more clearly with one side in those forums, or maintains its balancing act, will define its foreign policy posture in the months ahead.

As pressure mounts globally on governments to take explicit positions on the conflict, Owaisi's warning that those who 'stand with Israel' will face political consequences signals that the issue will remain a live fault line in Indian domestic politics well into the next electoral cycle.