Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Israel’s devastating struggle on Gaza, saying it stands by the nation “with full conviction” – regardless of accusations of genocide in opposition to the Palestinian individuals.
Modi gave a speech to the Knesset, or parliament, on Wednesday, on the primary day of his two-day go to and acquired a standing ovation as he harassed India’s enduring help for Israel.
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It was the primary time an Indian chief addressed the Knesset.
“India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction, on this second and past,” stated Modi, condemning the October 7, 2023, assault by Hamas-led fighters as “barbaric”, including “no trigger can justify the homicide of civilians”.
India’s chief was earlier greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport, the place a welcoming ceremony was held.
In his personal Knesset speech, Netanyahu thanked India for “standing by” Israel within the wake of October 7, and stated the 2 nations shared “frequent pursuits”. He described Modi as “greater than a pal, a brother”.
Modi stated New Delhi expressed “sturdy help” for the Gaza peace initiative authorised by the UN Safety Council in November. It “provides a pathway”, he stated, including India believes “it holds the promise of a simply and sturdy peace for all of the individuals of the area”.
‘Trusted companions’
The Indian chief stated the 2 international locations are “trusted companions” and this “contributes to international stability and prosperity”.
He described their relations as “important” for commerce and safety, and hailed “synergy” on synthetic intelligence, quantum know-how, and different subjects.
“We’re dedicated to additional consolidating this relationship throughout many sectors,” he added.
Modi’s first journey to Israel was in 2017 after relations between the 2 international locations warmed following his election in 2014. Netanyahu additionally visited India in 2018.
Haaretz newspaper journalist Gideon Levy advised Al Jazeera that Modi’s go to can’t be underestimated.
“India is a extremely necessary nation and [Modi] exhibiting himself … in these instances when public opinion in India could be very important about Israel is a step that can’t be underestimated,” stated Levy.
He pointed to similarities between Netanyahu and Modi, saying each are “nationalist, populist in a means, fairly conservative, and hawkish. Each international locations carry additionally some stains, Kashmir, Palestine, the West Financial institution”.
Israel’s largest arms purchaser
In September 2025, India and Israel signed the Bilateral Funding Treaty to increase commerce throughout far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s go to to India.
India is Israel’s largest arms purchaser, spending $20.5bn on Israeli weapons between 2020 and 2024. In 2024, commerce between the 2, largely primarily based on defence and safety, stood at $3.9bn.
Modi has acquired criticism for his help for Israel throughout its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, which has killed no less than 72,073 individuals and wounded 171,756. No less than 615 of these deaths occurred in the course of the “ceasefire” agreed between Israel and Hamas final October.
Final week, India was one of many greater than 100 international locations condemning Israel’s current strikes to increase its management of the occupied West Financial institution and transfer in direction of annexation.
Imran Masood, a parliamentarian for India’s Congress occasion, urged Modi to deal with Gaza throughout his go to, saying, “if there may be any morality then he ought to speak about dying of kids in Gaza”, ANI information company reported.
“India’s stand is evident … that it helps Palestine,” stated Masood.
Marian Alexander Child, chief of the Communist Occasion of India, stated Modi’s embrace of Israel is “a betrayal of India’s anti-colonial legacy and our long-standing place in help of the correct to self willpower of the Palestinian individuals, reaffirmed by UN resolutions that India has co-sponsored and voted for”.
Modi continues his go to to Israel on Thursday.
