Delhi police detain student activists marching towards Israel embassy; AISA condemns

New Delhi: Delhi on Tuesday afternoon witnessed heightened tensions as student activists, including prominent leaders, were detained by city police while attempting to march towards the Israeli Embassy. The demonstration aimed to voice strong opposition to the ongoing war in Gaza and protest the recent detentions of activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a humanitarian mission attempting to breach Israel’s naval siege.

Among those taken into custody were Nitish Kumar, President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union, and Saurabh, the All India Students’ Association’s Secretary at Jamia Millia Islamia. The protesting group condemned what they termed the “inhuman siege of Gaza” and the “illegal arrest of activists” who were part of the Flotilla.

Following the incident, AISA released a statement alleging that police “violently detained” students and activists, describing the action as “brutal.” The student organisation further demanded “boycott and divestment from Israel and an end to the joint ventures, weapons deals, and business exchange” with the country, the statement reads.

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Delhi Police officials confirmed that approximately 30 students were detained for protesting without securing prior permission. A senior officer stated they were transported to Bawana police station and would be released later. While AISA characterised the detentions as an attempt to “muzzle democratic dissent,” police maintained that the measures were purely preventive, enacted in adherence to security protocols surrounding diplomatic embassies.

The immediate trigger for the intensified protests appears to be Monday evening’s interception by Israeli naval forces of the charity vessel Madleen. This vessel, attempting to deliver symbolic humanitarian aid to Gaza, had 12 people on board, including notable figures like Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, who is of Palestinian descent. In response to Tuesday’s crackdown, AISA has called for a fresh protest scheduled for Wednesday at 3 pm at Jantar Mantar.