The League of Parliamentarians for al-Quds and Palestine sends an official message to the Indian Prime Minister to reconsider his upcoming visit to Israel

The League of Parliamentarians for al-Quds and Palestine sent an official memorandum to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to reconsider his upcoming visit to the Israeli occupation state, amidst ongoing attacks on the Palestinian people.

The League, in its message signed by its Secretary-General Dr. Mohammad Makram Balawi, emphasized that it closely monitors reports related to the visit, praising India's international status and its growing role in the global system. However, it also stressed the "parliamentary and ethical duty" to propose a legal and political memorandum regarding the implications of the visit at this time.

It pointed out that India, with its history of supporting liberation movements and anti-colonialism, especially its historical support for the Palestinian people, is called upon to reaffirm its commitment to the principles of its foreign policy based on respecting international law and the right of peoples to self-determination, and rejecting annexation, settlement expansion, and collective punishment policies.

The memorandum also noted that the upcoming visit coincides with the ongoing what it described as a "genocide" in Gaza since October 2023, and the escalation of serious violations and breaches of international law.

The League cited the International Court of Justice's ruling in January 2024 on provisional measures in the case concerning the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide, which indicated a reasonable risk of acts that could fall within the scope of the Convention in Gaza, and ordered immediate steps to prevent them and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.

It also pointed out that a number of officials of the occupying authority are subject to proceedings before the International Criminal Court on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity, considering that this reflects the seriousness of the alleged violations.

The message addressed the ongoing settlement in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, considering it a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2334, which affirms the illegality of settlements and calls for their immediate cessation, pointing out that successive Israeli policies undermine the foundations of a two-state solution through expanding settlements and imposing new demographic and geographic facts.

In conclusion, the League appealed to the Indian Prime Minister to reconsider the visit and work to leverage India's international standing to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and to press for compliance with the International Court of Justice's decisions and international humanitarian law, affirming that India's position at this stage will be evaluated in light of its role as a rising global power committed to an international system based on the rule of law.