Indian prime minister deepens defence and trade ties with Israel during Jerusalem visit as opposition accuses him of ignoring Gaza toll
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, told Israel’s parliament on Wednesday that New Delhi stands “firmly” with the country in the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, in remarks that underscored a growing strategic partnership but provoked criticism from opposition leaders at home.
Addressing a special session of the Knesset in Jerusalem, Modi conveyed condolences for Israeli victims of the assault and said India “shares your grief”. He did not explicitly reference the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed during Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza, now in its third year.
“We feel your pain,” he said. “India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond.”
Modi’s two-day visit included talks with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, aimed at expanding cooperation in defence, technology and trade. The pair, who have cultivated close personal ties since Modi took office in 2014, met privately after a red-carpet استقبال at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
Netanyahu’s office described the meeting as reflecting a “real friendship”, while Modi said discussions covered a broad range of issues, including regional developments.
In his address, Modi highlighted what he called a “natural foundation” for closer ties, citing India’s economic growth and Israel’s technological innovation. He pointed to potential collaboration in quantum technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Full diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established in 1992, but ties have deepened markedly over the past decade. Bilateral merchandise trade reached $3.62bn in 2024–25, according to Indian government figures, and talks this week in New Delhi focused on advancing a long-discussed free trade agreement.
The visit comes against the backdrop of continuing war in Gaza, triggered by the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in October 2023. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and drawn mounting international criticism.
In India, senior figures in the opposition Congress party accused Modi of sidestepping the humanitarian crisis. Priyanka Gandhi said she hoped the prime minister would acknowledge the deaths of “thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza”. Another senior lawmaker, Jairam Ramesh, described Modi’s embrace of Netanyahu as “moral cowardice” at a time when much of the world is critical of Israel’s conduct.
India has traditionally supported the Palestinian cause while also maintaining relations with Israel. Modi visited Ramallah in 2018, becoming the first Indian prime minister to do so. Analysts say New Delhi is seeking to balance historic diplomatic positions with expanding defence procurement and technology partnerships.
Israeli drone systems have played an increasingly prominent role in India’s military modernisation, and one of India’s largest conglomerates, the Adani Group, operates the port of Haifa. Meanwhile, ambitious plans for an India–Middle East–Europe economic corridor, unveiled in 2023, have stalled amid regional instability.
Modi is also expected to meet Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, before concluding his visit.
With India home to more than 200 million Muslims and navigating complex ties across the Middle East, the prime minister’s unequivocal support for Israel is likely to remain a contentious issue domestically, even as strategic cooperation between the two countries deepens.
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