Narendra Modi’s go to to Israel has drawn criticism at dwelling amid tensions over Israel’s genocidal battle on Gaza.
Revealed On 26 Feb 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India and Israel will collaborate extra carefully on defence expertise whereas pursuing a free commerce settlement, as he wrapped up a controversial two-day go to.
Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu stated at a joint information convention in Jerusalem on Thursday that they’d additionally foster collaboration on applied sciences, reminiscent of synthetic intelligence and cybersecurity, as their countries concluded greater than a dozen bilateral agreements.
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“The long run belongs to those that innovate and Israel and India are bent on innovation,” stated Netanyahu. “We’re proud historic civilisations, very pleased with our previous. However completely decided to grab the longer term, and we are able to do it higher collectively.”
A joint assertion highlighted cooperation within the discipline of “horizon scanning”, describing it as a mechanism that “helps determine rising international developments in areas like expertise, financial system and society, by leveraging knowledge”.
Israel additionally agreed to permit 50,000 extra Indian nationals into the nation, the place tens of 1000’s of South Asians have stuffed development and caregiving jobs since new restrictions have been positioned on Palestinian employees at the beginning of its battle on Gaza.
Strategic embrace
Modi’s go to, his second since he took workplace in 2014, has drawn criticism at dwelling, signalling an ongoing enlargement of India’s strategic embrace of Israel amid ongoing tensions over Israel’s genocidal battle towards Palestinians in Gaza, which has killed greater than 72,000 individuals.
Confirming their rising ties, the leaders’ joint assertion referenced the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, and an April 2025 assault on vacationers and civilians in Pahalgam, in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
“Terrorism can’t be accepted in any kind or expression,” stated Modi, who has traditionally supported the institution of a Palestinian state but has typically abstained from criticism of Israel in worldwide boards, together with the United Nations.
Earlier this month, India was among the many international locations that condemned Israeli measures to successfully deepen its management over the occupied West Financial institution.
Each international locations additionally lauded United States President Donald Trump’s plan to advance the “ceasefire” within the Gaza Strip.
