Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended Israel’s devastating battle on Gaza, saying it stands by the nation “with full conviction” – regardless of accusations of genocide in opposition to the Palestinian folks.
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 pressured 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,” mentioned 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 mentioned the 2 nations shared “frequent pursuits”. He described Modi as “greater than a good friend, a brother”.
Modi mentioned New Delhi expressed “robust help” for the Gaza peace initiative accredited by the UN Safety Council in November. It “provides a pathway”, he mentioned, including India believes “it holds the promise of a simply and sturdy peace for all of the folks of the area”.
‘Trusted companions’
The Indian chief mentioned the 2 international locations are “trusted companions” and this “contributes to world stability and prosperity”.
He described their relations as “important” for commerce and safety, and hailed “synergy” on synthetic intelligence, quantum know-how, and different matters.
“We’re dedicated to additional consolidating this relationship throughout many sectors,” he added.
Modi’s first trip 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 instructed Al Jazeera that Modi’s go to can’t be underestimated.
“India is a extremely essential nation and [Modi] displaying himself … in these instances when public opinion in India may be very essential about Israel is a step that can’t be underestimated,” mentioned Levy.
He pointed to similarities between Netanyahu and Modi, saying each are “nationalist, populist in a method, 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 broaden 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 based mostly 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 folks and wounded 171,756. A minimum of 615 of these deaths occurred through 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 expand its control of the occupied West Financial institution and transfer in the direction of annexation.
Imran Masood, a parliamentarian for India’s Congress social gathering, urged Modi to handle Gaza throughout his go to, saying, “if there may be any morality then he ought to speak about dying of youngsters in Gaza”, ANI information company reported.
“India’s stand is obvious … that it helps Palestine,” mentioned Masood.
Marian Alexander Child, chief of the Communist Get together of India, said Modi’s embrace of Israel is “a betrayal of India’s anti-colonial legacy and our long-standing place in help of the suitable to self dedication of the Palestinian folks, reaffirmed by UN resolutions that India has co-sponsored and voted for”.
Modi continues his go to to Israel on Thursday.
