'India funds, Gaza burns': Protests against genocide erupt across cities in India

Thousands of protesters across several Indian cities have risked beatings, arrest and detention to demand that India sever ties with Israel as part of a global commemoration of two years of genocide in Gaza.

Protests on Sunday took place in New Delhi, Patna, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

In Rohtak, in the state of Haryana, at least six protesters were detained and allegedly beaten by both vigilantes and the police. 

By nightfall, female activists were released, but by Monday afternoon, male activists were still being held.

Since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023, India has emerged as one Israel's strongest allies. Delhi has abstained from several ceasefire resolutions, sidestepped an international call for a military embargo, and has refused to join the genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.

The Indian state has also sent combat drones, arms components and bombs to its ally over the past two years, while 20,000 Indians have made their way to Israel to ostensibly replace Palestinian workers in construction and the caregiving sector.

Though the number of protesters taking to the streets in recent days are comparatively modest compared to the mobilisations currently taking place in Italy and Spain, activists say that momentum towards a mass movement against India's continued support for Israel is slowly building.

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