Modi says India stands 'firmly' with Israel after Oct 7 attack during visit
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) is greeted by Israeli lawmakers after his speech at the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem on February 25, 2026. — AFP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told lawmakers in Jerusalem on Wednesday that India stood "firmly" with Israel following Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.
Modi also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a two-day visit aimed at deepening trade and defence ties that has drawn criticism at home.
"I ... carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of India for every life lost and for every family whose world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7," Modi said in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
"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 the more than two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas.
But he said that India "supports all efforts that contribute to durable peace and regional stability".
Modi also told Israeli lawmakers that his country's economic growth and Israel's leadership in technological innovation formed a "natural foundation for our forward-looking partnership".
"I see a lot of synergies in areas such as quantum technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence," he added.
It is Modi's second visit to Israel as prime minister since he took office in 2014.
'A real friendship'
Earlier, a red carpet was rolled out at Israel's Ben Gurion airport and Modi was greeted with a hug by Netanyahu as he disembarked the plane.
Landed in Israel.
I am extremely honoured to be received by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu at the airport. I look forward to engaging in bilateral discussions and fruitful outcomes that strengthen the India-Israel friendship.@netanyahu pic.twitter.com/FYGDv0M3Xy
Welcome to Israel my dear friend @narendramodi 🇮🇱🙏🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/AnRtceD9Ci
"The two leaders share a special and a personal relationship," Shosh Bedrosian, spokeswoman for Netanyahu's office, said in a video posted on X.
"The bond between Israel and India is a powerful alliance as we are partners in innovation, security and a shared strategic vision," she added.
Welcome back to Israel, Prime Minister @narendramodi!
A historic visit underway.
🇮🇱🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Q7F8VtN12GNetanyahu's office said the two right-wing leaders held a private meeting after the welcoming ceremony, with the Israeli premier hailing "a real friendship".
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a private meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ben Gurion International Airport, after the welcoming ceremony:
“This is a bond of real friendship!” 🇮🇱🤝🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Gm6HWxMKWJIn a post on X, Modi described the meeting as "excellent".
"We discussed a wide range of topics aimed at deepening and strengthening the bilateral relations between our two countries," he said.
The pair "held an in-depth conversation about major developments in the region", he added.
Had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Expressed gratitude to him for the warm welcome earlier in the day. It is a delight to be back in Israel after 9 years. We discussed a wide range of subjects aimed at boosting bilateral ties. Sectors such as technology,… pic.twitter.com/uh1cyL411c
Modi is also scheduled to meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog during the visit. It is Modi's second visit to Israel as prime minister.
Modi said he would hold talks with Netanyahu to "discuss ways to strengthen cooperation".
I will be undertaking a State Visit to Israel today and tomorrow. Our nations share a robust and multifaceted Strategic Partnership. Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years. I will be holding talks with PM Netanyahu, in which we will discuss ways to strengthen…
"Our nations share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership," Modi said in a statement before leaving New Delhi, adding that he will address the Knesset, Israel's parliament, later on Thursday.
"Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years."
The Israeli foreign ministry official said discussions with a "regional aspect" would likely take place during the visit.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting this week, Netanyahu described India as being part of a future "axis" of like-minded nations that see eye-to-eye in confronting "the radical Shia axis" and "the emerging radical Sunni axis". "[Our] cooperation can yield great results and, of course, ensure our resilience and our future," Netanyahu said.
Kabir Taneja, of the Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think-tank said that, while India was interested in buying Israeli military equipment, New Delhi would hesitate to join any formal alliance given its history of non-alignment in international affairs.
New Delhi has steadily expanded cooperation with Israel across the defence, agriculture, technology and cybersecurity sectors, while balancing diplomatic interests in the Middle East.
Full diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992. Ties deepened after Hindu-nationalist leader Modi took office in 2014.
Talks opened in New Delhi on Monday for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India's government said in a statement, noting that merchandise trade reached $3.62 billion in 2024-2025.
Modi first visited Israel as prime minister in 2017, before Netanyahu made a reciprocal visit to India the following year.
Both right-wing leaders have called each other a "friend".
In September 2023, grand plans were unveiled in New Delhi for an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor — to link railways, ports, electricity, data networks and pipelines, including through Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Those plans were stalled by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which responded with a devastating incursion in the Gaza Strip.
'Shock and horror'
"What happened on October 7 was received in India with shock and horror, and which is why the support for Israel was quick, instantaneous, and enormous," said Ashok Malik, head of New Delhi-based strategic advisory firm The Asia Group.
India-Israel ties, which Modi is "taking forward with this visit", stem not only from strategic alignment on issues such as terrorism, he added.
"Israel has a lot to contribute in terms of innovation technology, including agriculture, technology, and economic partnerships and of course defence ... This is quite independent of the Palestinian issue," Malik said.
Months after his 2017 visit to Israel, Modi travelled to Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority.
His current visit, however, has sparked criticism at home.
Senior Congress party figure Priyanka Gandhi — sister of opposition leader Rahul — posted on social media today that she hoped Modi would mention the killing of "thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza" when he addresses Israel's parliament.
I hope that the Hon Prime Minister @narendramodi ji mentions the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza while addressing the Knesset on his upcoming trip to Israel and demands justice for them. India has stood for what is right throughout our history as…
India, the world's most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, is majority Hindu, but an estimated 220 million Indians are Muslim.
One of India's largest conglomerates, Adani Group, operates the Israeli port of Haifa, while Israeli military drone technology played a pivotal role during India's May 2025 clash with Pakistan.
At the same time, India maintains strong relations with Gulf nations and Tehran, including developing Iran's Chabahar port — a trade gateway to Afghanistan, where New Delhi has built a relationship with Taliban authorities.