NEW DELHI, India, Oct 16, (Agencies): Protests in support of Palestine have sparked controversy in New Delhi as authorities detained numerous demonstrators who had gathered for a citizens' vigil. These activists, who sought to show solidarity with Palestine, faced a heavy-handed response from the Delhi police.

The protests were a response to the ongoing violence in Gaza, which escalated on October 7 when Tel Aviv launched airstrikes following an attack on Israel by Hamas, a Gaza-based militant group. The conflict has led to a significant loss of life, with thousands of ordinary Palestinians being killed daily. As of Monday, the death toll in Gaza had reached 2,750, while 9,700 individuals were reported as injured, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. Israeli bombings have struck residential buildings, hospitals, and places of worship.

In the past week, India has seen several protests in support of Palestine, with activists gathering at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi on Monday. However, the demonstration met a forceful response, leading to the detention of more than 100 people, according to the All India Students' Association (AISA).

Prasenjeet Kumar, the national secretary-general of AISA, explained that the participants had gathered with an appeal for peace and to condemn the Israeli aggression against Palestinians, which is supported by the United States. He stated, "Delhi police denied our protest and they came down heavily on us and forcefully put us in a bus and took (some of) us to an undisclosed location."

New Delhi police have yet to respond to Arab News' request for comment. The demonstration included various non-governmental organizations, including student associations, trade unions, and women's organizations. It followed a protest over the weekend by India's largest civil society organizations, calling on the government to take a firm stance against the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

Sucheta De, the national secretary of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions, highlighted the historical connection between India's struggle for independence and that of Palestine. She affirmed India's traditional support for Palestine, despite the government's attempts to suppress voices advocating for the Palestinian cause.

Shweta Raj, the national secretary for the All India Progressive Women's Association, explained that organizers had informed the police in advance about the planned demonstration. Despite the police's sudden cancellation of the event, organizers decided to proceed with the protest as they had already issued a public call to join. The vigil, intended to support Palestine, turned into a tense situation as the police detained the protesters abruptly.