Shashi Tharoor Calls for Ceasefire in Israel-Gaza Conflict
On the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the incident as “deeply tragic” and emphasized the need for a ceasefire. He highlighted that while Israel has the right to self-defense, its actions have resulted in 41,000 deaths in Gaza. Tharoor quoted Mahatma Gandhi, saying, “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind,” and urged for an end to the violence.
Tharoor expressed concern over the conflict’s expansion towards Lebanon and called on the Indian government to advocate for peace. He also commented on Israel’s decision to ban UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling it “strange” and “extreme.” Tharoor noted that Guterres represents all member states and has the right to call for an end to the conflict.
Regarding External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s upcoming visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Tharoor clarified that the visit is for a multilateral meeting, not bilateral discussions. Jaishankar will attend the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad on October 15-16.
Doubts Revealed
Shashi Tharoor -: Shashi Tharoor is an Indian politician, author, and former international diplomat. He is a member of the Indian National Congress party and has been a Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Ceasefire -: A ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting for a certain period of time, usually to allow for peace talks or humanitarian aid. It is like a pause button in a conflict.
Israel-Gaza Conflict -: The Israel-Gaza conflict is a long-standing dispute between Israel and the Palestinian territories, including Gaza. It involves issues of territory, security, and mutual recognition.
October 7 attacks -: The October 7 attacks refer to a specific event or series of events that occurred on that date, which had significant impact on Israel. The details of these attacks are not specified in the summary.
Gandhi’s quote -: The quote “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind” is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. It means that if everyone retaliates with equal harm, it will lead to more destruction and suffering.
UN Secretary-General Guterres -: António Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations, an international organization that works to maintain peace and security around the world.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar -: S. Jaishankar is India’s Minister of External Affairs, responsible for managing India’s foreign relations and international diplomacy.
SCO meeting -: The SCO, or Shanghai Cooperation Organization, is a group of countries that work together on political, economic, and security issues. India is a member of this organization.
Bilateral talks -: Bilateral talks are discussions between two countries to address issues of mutual interest. In this context, it means direct talks between India and Pakistan.
