JERUSALEM (MNN); Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed India’s “firm” support for Israel on Wednesday during his address to the Knesset, following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack. Modi also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his two-day visit aimed at strengthening trade and defense ties, which has sparked criticism in India.
“I carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family affected by the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7,” Modi said. “We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond.”
In his speech, Modi did not explicitly mention the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza during Israel’s two-year-long military campaign, but he emphasized that India “supports all efforts that contribute to durable peace and regional stability.”
Modi highlighted India’s economic growth and Israel’s leadership in technological innovation as forming a “natural foundation for our forward-looking partnership,” citing synergies in quantum technologies, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.
This marks Modi’s second visit to Israel as prime minister since 2014. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, he was welcomed by Netanyahu with a hug, reflecting the personal rapport between the two leaders. A private meeting followed the ceremony, during which both leaders discussed regional developments and bilateral cooperation. Modi also plans to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
India and Israel have steadily expanded cooperation in defense, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity, while maintaining diplomatic balance in the Middle East. Talks for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement opened in New Delhi on Monday, with merchandise trade reaching $3.62 billion in 2024-2025.
Modi’s visit has drawn domestic criticism. Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh, expressed concerns that Modi did not address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accusing him of “moral cowardice” for embracing Netanyahu amid the ongoing conflict.
The visit underscores India’s strategic ties with Israel, while navigating the complex regional and domestic political sensitivities associated with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
