New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and reiterated India’s firm support to Israel amid the war with Hamas.
Israeli forces have intensified attacks in Gaza after Hamas terror group on Saturday launched the deadliest attacks on Israel in decades.
“People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” PM Modi tweeted, adding that he had received an update on the situation from Netanyahu over a phone call.
I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023
Later, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that PM Modi highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu assured of full cooperation and support, it said in a readout.
“The PM expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel and conveyed that people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour. He reiterated that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” it said.
The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch, the MEA added.
The prime minister had previously tweeted Saturday in which he had expressed solidarity with Israel.
Apart from India, the US, the UK, France, Germany and Italy issued a joint statement supporting Israel, condemning Hamas and acknowledging the “legitimate aspirations” of Palestinian people.
Having previously repeatedly voted against Israel on UN resolutions as recently as 2021, India in December 2022 abstained from voting on a resolution that called for the opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israeli “occupation” of Palestinian territorial claims.
Historically, India was among the last non-Muslim majority countries to recognise Israel in 1950 and the first non-Arab state to recognise the Palestinian Liberation Movement in 1975.
While India’s West Asia strategic stance received growing criticism locally in the 1970s and 1980s, the tide did not turn until after 1990 with the beginning of diplomatic relations between India and Israel, according to The Indian Express.
While New Delhi has continued to engage with all sides in the West Asia region, the India-Israel relationship has touched new heights under PM Modi. In 2017, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel. At present, India is among the largest buyers of Israel’s military hardware.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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