Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh
Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
Republic of India
Hon. President Mohamed Muizzu,
Republic of Maldives
Hon. Prime Minister Sushila Karki,
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Hon. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake,
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
South Asian Councillors demand a clear position from the South Asian Governments against the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza and systematic violation of human rights across the occupied Palestinian territories
We, the undersigned South Asian Councillors for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace, affiliated to South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR), write in deep anguish over the ongoing catastrophic situation in Gaza even amidst proclaimed ceasefire arrangements, which have failed to halt the genocide of the Palestinian people by the Government of Israel.
We are concerned by the reluctance of South Asia’s governments to take a strong stand, individually and collectively, against the unprecedented and continuing destruction of Gaza. This devastation, carried out by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in full view of the world, threatens the very survival of the Palestinian people. We believe the abductions and killings of 7 October 2023 must be condemned, but that those atrocities in no way justify Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian innocent civilians.
As of February 2026, despite the announced ceasefire and diplomatic initiatives, Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank continue to face lethal military violence, mass displacement, and acute humanitarian deprivation. The persistence of civilian deaths, including within ceasefire phases, underscores the failure of existing attempts to ensure protection, accountability and justice.
We applaud The Hague Group for supporting the directives of the ICC and International Court of Justice in relation to Israel’s actions on Gaza, and for condemning collective punishment and indiscriminate violence against Gaza’s civilian population. We appreciate the legal and diplomatic measures taken in solidarity with the people of Palestine by members of the Group, including Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa.
On the other hand, we fail to find merit in the so-called Board of Peace, meant to control Gaza’s governance and reconstruction. The entity concentrates decision-making in one individual, viz. the President of the United States, is not accountable to the Palestinian people, brazenly monetises membership in the group, and weakens the role of the United Nations as the principal international custodian of the Palestinian people. The entity’s establishment goes against Palestinian self-determination, and is geared to entrenching impunity rather than delivering justice or peace.
More than 77,000 Palestinians, including over 20,000 children and 12,500 women, have been killed since 7 October 2023, amidst Israel’s relentless bombardment, ground offensives, and the systematic destruction of hospitals, schools, places of worship and civilian neighbourhoods and encampments. Starvation has been deliberately used as a weapon through the blockade of food, water, and medicine, with hundreds killed while seeking basic survival aid. Even in periods described as ceasefire phases, the killing continues as children starve due to obstruction of food supplies and they freeze due to adequate facilities during the harsh winters.
Nor is the crisis confined to Gaza. Across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli military raids, mass arrests, punitive home demolitions, and the killing of Palestinian civilians has intensified. Such acts of collective punishment further entrench occupation, impunity, and prove that the assault on Palestinian rights is comprehensive and ongoing.
Israel’s continued violations of international law severely erode global peace. Provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, ongoing investigations by the International Criminal Court, and repeated warnings by United Nations bodies have thus far failed to halt violations or secure accountability. Continued non-compliance with international legal obligations underscores the urgent responsibility of third states not to aid, assist, or remain complicit in these crimes.
We address Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Mohamed Muizzu, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: while some South Asian governments have been more proactive than others in taking a stand against the Gaza genocide, we believe much more could be done individually and collectively. Not doing so undermines our region’s moral standing and credibility on global issues.
We commend the government of Maldives for its proactive measures including banning the entry of Israeli passport-holders, suspension of bilateral relations, and for joining South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ. Pakistan, too, continues with its policy of not recognizing Israel and advocating for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.
Sri Lanka, while supporting Palestinian statehood and condemning the violence against the people of Gaza, maintains close military and intelligence ties with Tel Aviv. Colombo has recently sent a large number of its nationals as migrant workers to Israel. Nepal has done the same in relation to caregivers, while neither it nor Sri Lanka have a policy of vetting incoming Israeli tourists to prevent entry of Israel Defense Forces personnel with record of war crimes.
We are distressed by New Delhi’s enhanced security and commercial partnership with Tel Aviv, which also tarnishes India’s record against colonial oppression. New Delhi’s ambivalent position on the Gaza genocide has weakened its moral standing and leadership in the Global South.
In accordance with international law, including obligations under the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law, we demand that each Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Asia be mindful of maintaining its independent foreign policy and refrain from being overly solicitous towards the Embassy of Israel, with whom contact should be limited to safety of citizens in Israel and standard consular issues. We firmly advocate that the governments of South Asia must desist from signing new agreements with Tel Aviv until at least the killing of innocents ends in Gaza.
History will judge not only the perpetrators of the crimes against the Palestinian people, but also the governments that choose silence, equivocation and selective morality in the face of mass atrocity. We urge all South Asian governments to consider joining The Hague Group and to support the directives of the ICC and International Court of Justice in relation to Israel’s actions on Gaza.
Sincerely,
Hina Jilani, Pakistan
Sultana Kamal, Bangladesh
Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Bangladesh
Dr. Syeda Hameed, India
Kanak Mani Dixit, Nepal
Dr. Sima Samar, Afghanistan