Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel combined strategic diplomacy with deeply emotional symbolism, drawing strong reactions from Israeli leadership. During his address to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Modi’s remarks reportedly moved the chamber, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to state that “not a dry eye was left in Israel” after the speech. Netanyahu described the two-day engagement as brief but highly productive and emotionally powerful, emphasising that it reflected both heartfelt connection and intellectual partnership between the two nations.
The visit marked Modi’s second trip to Israel since 2017, reinforcing a relationship that has steadily expanded across defence, technology, agriculture, and innovation sectors. Several memoranda of understanding were exchanged in the presence of the two leaders, signalling continued institutional strengthening of bilateral ties. The agreements underscored growing cooperation in areas central to both countries’ long-term strategic interests.
In his Knesset address, Modi condemned the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, describing them as barbaric and expressing solidarity with the people of Israel. He conveyed India’s empathy, stating that India shared Israel’s grief and pain. At the same time, he reaffirmed India’s support for a Gaza peace initiative endorsed internationally, describing it as a pathway toward a just and lasting resolution in the region. Emphasising the broader global dimension of security threats, he noted that terrorism anywhere poses a danger to peace everywhere and called for coordinated international efforts to combat extremism.
The visit also included solemn moments of remembrance at Yad Vashem, Israel’s World Holocaust Remembrance Centre. Accompanied by Netanyahu, Modi toured the Hall of Names and the Book of Names Hall, which preserve the memory of millions of Holocaust victims. During a memorial ceremony, he laid a wreath and placed a stone in tribute, reaffirming a shared commitment to peace and human dignity. The symbolic act highlighted India’s respect for Jewish history and underscored the moral dimension of the bilateral relationship.
Established in 1953, Yad Vashem serves as Israel’s official memorial to Holocaust victims and plays a central role in research, documentation, and education about the atrocities of the past. Modi’s return visit to the memorial, combined with his address to the Knesset and the signing of multiple agreements, reflected the layered character of India–Israel ties—anchored not only in strategic cooperation but also in shared historical memory, mutual respect, and visible gestures of solidarity.
