A court in Qatar has handed death penalty to eight former Indian Navy personnel Thursday for allegedly spying for Israel. The verdict has stunned India, which termed it ‘deeply’ shocking.
These Indians were arrested last year in August on charges for espionage. They worked for Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services.
These eight former military personnel have been identified as Capt Navtej Singh Gill, Capt Birendra Kumar Verma, Capt Saurabh Vasisht, Cdr Amit Nagpal, Cdr Purnendu Tiwari, Cdr Sugunakar Pakala, Cdr Sanjeev Gupta and Sailor Ragesh.
The Indian External Affairs ministry said in its reaction was it was treating the development with high importance and would explore all legal avenues.
The development comes amidst Israeli terrorism and war crimes against unarmed Palestinians. The Israeli bombing targeting hospitals and residential complexes have killed more than 7,000 people including 3,000 babies.
Israel has also used white phosphorus in Gaza, a substance banned by the United Nations. Several western countries such as the US, the UK, France and Canada have pledged unconditional help to Israel in carrying out the genocide and war crimes in Gaza. Fearing consequences at the International Criminal Court in the future, both the US and the UK have softened their stand, albeit slightly, but continued to justify the Israel’s decision to cut off water, food, fuel and electricity to the 2.2 million population of Gaza.