Key Points
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly defended Israel’s military campaign in Gaza during a landmark address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
- Modi stated that India “stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” while condemning the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack as “barbaric.”
- The speech took place on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, during the first day of Modi’s two-day official visit to Israel.
- The address was delivered in Jerusalem, marking the first time an Indian head of government has spoken before the Knesset.
- Modi’s remarks reaffirmed India’s alignment with Israel despite mounting international accusations of genocide and widespread criticism of the human toll of the Gaza war.
- He simultaneously voiced “strong support” for a United Nations Security Council–backed Gaza peace initiative, presenting it as a pathway to a just and durable settlement.
- The stance has drawn domestic criticism in India, particularly from opposition figures who say the government is distancing itself from India’s traditional backing of Palestinian self‑determination and its anti‑colonial foreign policy legacy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used a historic address to Israel’s Knesset to defend Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and to declare India’s full political backing for the country, even as casualty figures in the enclave continue to rise and legal allegations mount at international forums. Speaking in Jerusalem on 25 February 2026 at the start of a two‑day visit, Modi said India “stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction, in this moment and beyond,” while condemning the 7 October 2023 Hamas‑led attack as a “barbaric” act of terrorism that no cause could justify.
The appearance marked the first time an Indian leader has addressed Israel’s parliament and underscored New Delhi’s tightening strategic partnership with Israel in defence, technology and trade. Modi’s language aligned India explicitly with Israel’s security narrative at a time when the Gaza war has left more than 72,000 Palestinians dead and over 171,000 injured, according to figures cited by several international outlets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Modi at Ben Gurion Airport before the speech and described the Indian leader as “more than a friend, a brother,” highlighting what he called shared interests between the two states. The two leaders are expected to hold detailed talks on defence procurement, high‑technology cooperation and regional security during the visit, according to Israeli and Indian media reports.
Strong support for Israel and UN‑backed Gaza plan
In his Knesset address, Modi combined robust endorsement of Israel’s military stance with a formal nod to multilateral diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict. He reiterated India’s “strong support” for a Gaza peace initiative approved by the United Nations Security Council in November, describing it as a potential “pathway” towards a just and lasting peace for all communities in the region.
Modi told lawmakers that “no cause can justify the murder of civilians” and linked his condemnation of the 7 October attack to India’s own experience of militant violence, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. “We feel your pain, we share your grief,” he said, before declaring that India stands with Israel “in this moment and beyond.”
While the Indian premier firmly backed Israel’s security operations, he did not go into detailed public criticism of the humanitarian situation in Gaza in the excerpts reported by regional and international outlets. Some reports noted that he framed the UN‑endorsed Gaza plan as a route to address broader Palestinian issues, including long‑running demands for statehood, without elaborating on specific political parameters in his Knesset speech.
Casualties and allegations over Gaza war
Modi’s comments came against the backdrop of a prolonged Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has drawn scrutiny at the International Court of Justice and other bodies over allegations of genocide and disproportionate use of force. Figures cited by outlets monitoring the conflict suggest that more than 72,073 Palestinians have been killed and about 171,756 injured in Gaza since October 2023, with women and children making up a significant share of the fatalities.
Reports also note that at least 600 people were killed during a period described as a “ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas in October, highlighting the fragility and contested nature of previous truce arrangements. Israel has rejected accusations that its campaign amounts to genocide, arguing that it is responding to the 7 October attacks and seeking to dismantle Hamas as a military and governing force in Gaza.
Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 resulted in large‑scale casualties and hostage‑taking, prompting Israel to launch extensive air and ground operations in the enclave. The conflicting casualty claims and legal characterisations of the war continue to be the subject of international investigation and diplomatic dispute, and some of the figures cited by parties to the conflict could not be independently verified.
Deepening India–Israel strategic partnership
Modi used the Knesset platform to emphasise the strategic dimension of India’s relationship with Israel, referring to the two countries as “trusted partners” whose cooperation contributes to regional and global stability. He highlighted partnerships in defence, security, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and semiconductors as areas where he saw “numerous synergies” underpinning what he termed a “vital” relationship.
New Delhi has become Israel’s largest arms customer in recent years, with one report putting Indian purchases of Israeli weapons at around 20.5 billion dollars between 2020 and 2024. Defence ties include missile systems, drones and surveillance equipment, and the visit is expected to pave the way for further procurement and joint development agreements, according to regional media.
Economic cooperation extends beyond defence, with both sides promoting trade and investment links in technology, agriculture and water management. Indian officials have previously framed closer ties with Israel as part of a broader strategy to diversify security partnerships and access advanced technology, while maintaining relations with Arab states and Iran.
Domestic criticism inside India
Modi’s staunch public backing for Israel has triggered criticism from some opposition politicians and civil society groups in India, who argue that the government is departing from the country’s traditional position on the Palestinian question. Marian Alexander Baby, a leader of the Communist Party of India, was quoted as describing Modi’s embrace of Israel as a “betrayal of India’s anti‑colonial legacy,” accusing the government of moving away from decades of support for Palestinian self‑determination endorsed in United Nations resolutions that India has backed or co‑sponsored.
Critics say the government’s current stance risks undermining India’s credibility in the Global South, where solidarity with Palestinian statehood has long been a component of post‑colonial diplomacy. They also question the compatibility of strong security ties with Israel and India’s stated support for peaceful resolution of the conflict, particularly amid high Palestinian casualty figures and reports of widespread destruction in Gaza.
Supporters of the government, including many within Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, argue that closer alignment with Israel reflects shared concerns over terrorism and the need for robust security responses. They contend that India can maintain support for Palestinian rights while deepening strategic cooperation with Israel, though rights groups and some foreign policy analysts have challenged that assessment.
International diplomatic and legal context
Modi’s visit and declarations of support came as Israel faces intense diplomatic pressure and legal scrutiny over its conduct in Gaza. Several countries and international organisations have accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law, with cases brought before the International Court of Justice and proceedings discussed at the International Criminal Court.
At the same time, more than 100 countries, including India, recently backed a United Nations measure criticising Israeli settlement expansion and moves to extend control over the occupied West Bank, signalling ongoing international concern about the broader occupation. That vote underlined the complexity of India’s position, as New Delhi simultaneously condemned aspects of Israel’s territorial policy while offering strong rhetorical support for its security campaign against Hamas.
Diplomatic efforts to implement the UNSC‑endorsed Gaza peace initiative remain fragile, with differences persisting over sequencing of ceasefire arrangements, hostage releases, humanitarian access and political governance in the enclave. Regional governments and external powers continue to debate mechanisms for post‑war reconstruction and security guarantees, and many of these discussions are taking place parallel to India’s engagement with Israel and other Middle Eastern partners.
Balancing support for Israel and Palestinian issue
In his remarks to the Knesset, Modi sought to present India’s stance as compatible with long‑standing support for a negotiated settlement of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. By backing the UN‑endorsed Gaza peace framework, he indicated that New Delhi supports diplomatic efforts aimed at a “just and durable peace,” which many states interpret as requiring substantive political accommodations for Palestinians, although he did not set out detailed parameters in the speech excerpts reported.
India has historically supported a two‑state solution and recognised the State of Palestine, while also developing extensive ties with Israel since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. Analysts note that recent Indian governments have increasingly de‑linked high‑profile engagement with Israel from public expressions of solidarity with Palestinians, reflecting both strategic priorities and domestic political considerations.
Modi’s decision to foreground Israel’s security concerns and terrorism narrative in Jerusalem, while offering more general language on Palestinian rights and the Gaza peace initiative, was seen by some commentators as an indication of where New Delhi is placing its diplomatic emphasis at this stage of the conflict. Others argue that India is attempting to preserve room for manoeuvre with Arab states and multilateral forums by keeping formal support for UN‑based peace efforts on the record.
What happens next
Modi is expected to continue his two‑day visit with bilateral meetings focusing on defence deals, technological cooperation and regional security, with further announcements possible on joint projects in areas such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies. Any new agreements or statements will be watched closely in Arab capitals and at the United Nations, where India’s positioning on the Gaza war and Palestinian statehood remains under scrutiny.
Implementation of the UN Security Council–backed Gaza peace initiative will depend on negotiations between Israel, Palestinian factions and international mediators, and no clear timetable has yet been agreed for a comprehensive settlement. Legal proceedings related to the Gaza conflict at international courts are likely to continue in parallel, potentially influencing diplomatic calculations in New Delhi, Jerusalem and other capitals over the coming months.
If the humanitarian situation in Gaza and tensions in the occupied West Bank persist or escalate, India may face renewed domestic and international debate over the balance between its strategic partnership with Israel and its stated support for Palestinian rights. Observers will monitor whether New Delhi adjusts its rhetoric or policy in response to developments on the ground and evolving multilateral pressure.
