In a blatant act of state repression, Delhi Police detained scores of student protestors on 10 June, even before a peaceful demonstration could begin outside the Israeli Embassy. The protest, organised by AISA and other student groups, was in response to Israel's interception of the “Madleen - Freedom Flotilla”, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The students had gathered to demand that the Indian government press Israel to allow the safe passage of the flotilla and ensure the well-being of its crew, who remain under threat from Israeli forces. Instead, protestors were rounded up before the protest could even begin. Several were detained from metro stations, while cases of “illegal protest” were filed against key organisers, including JNUSU President Comrade Nitish Kumar and AISA Jamia Secretary Comrade Saurabh.
Comrade Nitish stressed the need for international pressure on Israel and called for strengthening the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. He also denounced the Indian government’s complicity in Israel’s actions through its deepening ties with the Adani-Israel nexus.
AISA condemned the detentions and FIRs, stating that the government is criminalising dissent while shielding a regime responsible for mass starvation and civilian deaths in Gaza. The organisation demanded the immediate withdrawal of all cases and reaffirmed its call to break the siege on Gaza.
