Congress condemns Israel's excessive use of force on Palestinians

The Congress on Thursday condemned the excessive use of force by the Israeli armed forces on Palestinian protesters in Gaza which left over 50 people dead and hundreds injured.

The Congress reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle for the creation of an independent state of Palestine within secure borders, senior party leader Anand Sharma said in a statement.

"The deaths of a large number of Palestinian protesters in Gaza, including women and children, caused by the action of Israeli armed forces, which also left hundred of Palestinians injured, has invited international outrage and condemnation.

"The Indian National Congress expresses its deep sense of shock and grief over the tragic incident and condemns the excessive use of force on the Palestinian people," Sharma said.

The Congress also urged all concerned parties to act with restraint and work for a "negotiated and acceptable" resolution of the dispute.

More than 50 Palestinians were killed in violence in wake of the US opening its embassy in Jerusalem earlier this week.

While Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called for intensified protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country's military action that killed and wounded Palestinians.

--IANS

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