Thousands of people in Kerala, a state in southern India, have taken to the streets in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. The region, known for its historical connections to the Arab world, has a strong tradition of supporting causes of international significance.
The rallies and candlelight vigils in Kerala come in response to Israel’s relentless airstrikes and ground attacks on Gaza, which have resulted in the deaths of over 11,300 Palestinians, including nearly half of them children, according to official figures. The disproportionate killing of civilians and the siege on hospitals providing critical care have sparked outrage worldwide, leading to solidarity marches and protests.
Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), condemned Israel and criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his support of the Israeli regime. Vijayan called for the termination of military deals with Israel and the severing of diplomatic ties. In response, the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dared Vijayan to condemn Hamas.
The solidarity movement in Kerala gained significant momentum with the largest-ever Palestine solidarity march in India, organized by the Indian Union Muslim League. Over 200,000 people participated in the march, and the main opposition party in Kerala, the Indian National Congress, has announced its own solidarity rally.
Kerala’s support for Palestine can be attributed to its historical ties with the Arab world, particularly due to the migration of Keralites to the Gulf region starting in the 1980s. The expatriate community, which forms a majority of Indian expats in the Middle East, has exposed Keralites to the struggles of the Palestinian people, creating a sense of natural sympathy.
Furthermore, Kerala stands out in India due to its high human development indices, including a high literacy rate of 93.91 percent compared to the national rate of 74 percent. The state’s prominent political parties, including the Indian National Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have criticized the federal government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for supporting Israel.
Leaders from these political parties argue that supporting Palestine is in line with India’s own freedom struggle against British colonial rule. They emphasize that the issue is about the liberation of Palestine and not limited to any particular religion.
Kerala has a history of supporting international causes, such as opposing South Africa’s apartheid regime, supporting Vietnam during the war against the United States and France, and providing aid to Cuba during the US sanctions in the early 1990s. The state has also witnessed anti-war rallies during the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The support for Palestine in Kerala reflects the strong anti-imperialist and anti-colonial sentiments among the people, with figures like Yasser Arafat being revered alongside Karl Marx and Frederick Engels.
The rallies and events in Kerala demonstrate the solidarity of the people with the Palestinian cause and their condemnation of the Israeli offensive. The state’s historical connections, high literacy rate, and progressive political parties contribute to the strong support for Palestine in Kerala.
