Kochi, the city renowned for various tourist attractions, is also home of the oldest Jewish community in India, albeit with only a few members left.

The video capturing a tense confrontation between a woman, who appears to be Jewish, and the community members, who challenged her actions, has circulated widely on various social media platforms. The woman in the video is heard asserting that pro-Palestinian posters were promoting “racism and propaganda.”

The Students’ Islamic Organization of India (SIO), the youth wing of the socio-religious group Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, reportedly installed the posters. The students responsible for putting up the posters insist that their intention was not to promote hostility between religions or sects. Instead, they claim that their aim was to bring attention to the “ongoing suffering” of Palestinians.

A police complaint filed by the SIO described the banners as “depicting a child standing in front of a battle tank, accompanied by a description that emphasized the importance of speaking out against violence and standing up for humanity.”

Following Israel’s offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza as a response to the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, the president of the organization, Syed Sadatullah Husani, asserted that Palestine is the “most oppressed country in the world,” and that supporting Palestine aligns with India’s “best interests.”

New Delhi has frequently emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to the long-standing conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Additionally, India has warned that the escalation of tensions could lead to a broader conflict in the Middle East.

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Detained tourist underwent a short investigation and has been formally charged with section 153 (provoking riots) of the Indian Panel Code (IPC), which is considered a bailable offense. This charge against the Australian visitor has been filed at the Fort Kochi Police Station, before she was brought to trial in the Thoppumpady ward of Kochi.

During the investigation, it was determined that the tourist’s friend could not be implicated and therefore was not arrested. According to the latest reports, representatives from the Australian embassy have extended their assistance in navigating the legal processes.