Modi Praises Israel, Calls Hamas Attack Barbaric
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- Modi addressed the Knesset on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian leader to speak there and receiving a standing ovation.
- Modi condemned the Oct. 7 Hamas attack as “barbaric” and stated “no cause can justify the murder of civilians,” while affirming “India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction.”
- Modi voiced “strong support” for the UN Security Council‑approved Gaza peace initiative, describing it as a pathway to a “just and durable peace for all the people of the region.”
- Netanyahu thanked India for “standing by” Israel, called Modi “more than a friend, a brother,” and highlighted shared “common interests.”
- India is Israel’s largest arms buyer, having spent $20.5 bn on Israeli weapons from 2020‑2024, with 2024 bilateral trade at $3.9 bn, largely defence‑related.
- Imran Masood and Communist Party figure Marian Alexander Baby criticized Modi’s stance, urging attention to Gaza casualties and calling the partnership a betrayal of India’s anti‑colonial legacy.
Why it matters: Modi’s explicit endorsement of Israel deepens the strategic partnership that already makes India Israel’s top arms buyer, likely sustaining the $20.5 bn defence procurement flow, while the domestic backlash from opposition figures underscores growing political pressure over India’s stance on the Gaza conflict.
