Three Arrested for Waving Palestinian Flag in Bihar’s Nawada

Three persons were arrested in Bihar’s Nawada district on Monday, July 15, after a video showed them waving a Palestinian flag, PTI quoted sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Pakribarawan, Mahesh Choudhary as saying.

The officer said the persons in question waved the flag ahead of Muharram in the Dhamaula area on Sunday.

“An investigation was immediately launched. Based on the investigation carried out by the local police, three persons were arrested on the charge of waving a Palestinian flag during the procession”, the SDPO said.

He went on to allege that the procession was taken out without mandatory permission from the authorities concerned. The Palestinian flag was immediately seized, Choudhary added.

On July 13, the Bihar Police had also booked two persons on the charge of waving the Palestinian flag at a procession ahead of Muharram in Bihar’s Darbhanga district.

In a similar incident, on July 9, a 20-year-old shopkeeper was arrested for allegedly waving the Palestinian flag at a Muharram procession in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi on Tuesday.

Although India historically stood with Palestine and supported its self-determination demand, the situation, however, has changed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi ascended to power in 2014. Police across Indian states, particularly BJP-ruled states, have largely criminalized pro-Palestine protests and have cracked down on them.

The relationship between India and Israel has enhanced over the past few decades, marked by increasing defense cooperation and strategic alignment. This collaboration has drawn scrutiny and criticism due to its implications for human rights and the ongoing conflicts involving Palestinians and Kashmiris.

Strategic and Defense Cooperation:

India is one of the largest buyers of Israeli military equipment, including weapons and ammunition. Since the 2000s, this cooperation has expanded to include advanced technologies such as drones, missile systems, and surveillance equipment. Most of these were used against Kashmiris.

  1. Weapons Transfers:
    • India has acquired a variety of Israeli defense technologies, including the Iron Dome missile defense system and Spyder air defense systems.
    • Reports indicate that Israeli weapons and ammunition have been used in conflict zones where civilian casualties have occurred.
    • Israel also got ammunition and weapons during the genocide in Gaza from India.
  2. Security and Intelligence Cooperation:
    • India and Israel share intelligence and collaborate on spying against Palestinians and Kashmiris. This cooperation includes joint training exercises and strategic planning, often focused on countering insurgency to suppress the freedom struggle of Palestinians and Kashmiris.

Support in Conflict Situations:

India and Israel’s mutual support extends beyond arms sales, influencing their respective domestic and international policies regarding the Palestinian and Kashmiri struggles. India has been supporting Genocide in Gaza and Israel has been supporting India in suppressing minorities in India.

  1. Palestinian Struggle:
    • The Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, which have seen extensive use of advanced weaponry, including those supplied by Israel’s defense industry, have resulted in substantial civilian casualties and destruction of infrastructure.
    • The UN reports that, for example, the 2014 Gaza conflict resulted in over 2,200 Palestinian deaths, with a significant proportion being civilians. The use of airstrikes and artillery, facilitated by advanced Israeli technology, has drawn international condemnation for excessive force.
  2. Kashmir Conflict:
    • India’s counterinsurgency efforts in Kashmir have been supported by Israeli expertise and equipment. This includes surveillance technology and crowd control measures that have been used during violent clashes.
    • Reports from human rights organizations have documented the excessive use of force by Indian security forces in Kashmir. For example, the use of pellet guns, resulting in severe injuries to civilians, has been criticized internationally. The UN Human Rights Council has highlighted instances of human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and extrajudicial killings.

Convergence of Interests:

The India-Israel is grounded in several converging interests:

  • Counterterrorism: Both nations face insurgencies and challenges that have shaped their strategic and military collaborations.
  • Defense Technology: India benefits from Israeli advancements in military technology, while Israel gains a significant market and strategic ally in South Asia.

Human Rights Implications:

The cooperation between India and Israel, particularly in the context of their respective conflicts, raises serious human rights concerns. The Palestinian narrative highlights the ongoing suffering under occupation and military aggression, while the Kashmiri narrative emphasizes the struggles of an oppressed population facing severe restrictions and violence.

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