By Palestine Chronicle Staff, February 26, 2026
Modi’s Israel visit strengthens military and tech ties, offering Netanyahu political cover amid Gaza genocide and regional tensions.Key Takeaways
Modi’s two-day visit to Israel centers on defense, technology, and economic cooperation while Gaza remains under devastating assault.The Knesset address functioned as a high-visibility endorsement of Israel during mounting genocide allegations.India is one of Israel’s most important defense and trade partners, with bilateral trade reaching $3.62 billion in 2025.Palestinian solidarity voices and Indian opposition figures condemned the visit as legitimizing Netanyahu’s wartime policies.The trip carries broader geopolitical implications, intersecting with US-Iran tensions and emerging regional corridors.The Optics
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel to a warm public embrace from Benjamin Netanyahu, a carefully choreographed display underscoring the deepening alignment between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
According to the Associated Press, the two-day visit is focused on strengthening “security, economic and technological cooperation,” including meetings with Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, an address to the Knesset, and the signing of multiple agreements.
India–Israel trade reached $3.62 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting the economic dimension of the partnership.
But the optics matter as much as the agreements. Modi’s speech to Israel’s parliament comes as Israel continues its genocidal war on Gaza — a campaign that has killed and wounded hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the besieged territory’s civilian infrastructure. In this context, a standing ovation in the Knesset is not merely a diplomatic ceremony; it is political messaging.
Israel’s government, facing growing
international scrutiny over war crimes allegations, benefits enormously
from high-profile visits by major powers. Modi’s appearance signals that
Israel remains far from isolated, even as global outrage over Gaza
intensifies.
The Speech
In his Knesset address, Modi emphasized that India and Israel are “trusted partners” whose relationship is “vital” for trade and security. He condemned the October 7, 2023 attacks and declared that “nothing can justify terrorism,” aligning himself closely with Israeli framing of the conflict.
Reuters reported that Modi reaffirmed India’s solidarity with Israel and its “firm stance against terrorism,” while Netanyahu highlighted what he called a “tremendous alliance” between the two countries. The Israeli prime minister praised India for “standing by” Israel.
Modi referenced support for a UN-backed Gaza peace initiative and spoke of dialogue and stability. Yet notably absent was any strong public criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The speech’s structure reflects a broader shift in Indian foreign policy. Historically, India was among the strongest supporters of Palestinian self-determination in the Global South. Diplomatic relations with Israel were only formalized in 1992. Since Modi’s rise to power in 2014, however, relations with Israel have moved from cautious pragmatism to overt strategic alignment.
The ‘Partnership’
Behind the rhetoric lies the substance: arms and technology.
India has become one of Israel’s largest defense customers. Cooperation spans missile systems, surveillance technologies, air defense, drones, and cybersecurity platforms. Analysts widely recognize that Israeli defense exports to India have surged over the past decade, embedding the relationship in concrete military infrastructure.
The current visit is expected to further expand collaboration in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and joint defense production. Netanyahu has openly described the relationship as part of a broader axis of innovation and security.
For Palestinians, this is not abstract cooperation. Israel’s military technologies are developed, refined, and field-tested in the context of occupation and repeated wars on Gaza. Surveillance systems, drone capabilities, and precision-guided weaponry are inseparable from the architecture of control imposed on Palestinians.
Domestic Criticism
Modi’s visit has drawn criticism both within India and internationally. The Communist Party of India described the trip as legitimizing Netanyahu during a genocidal assault on Gaza, framing it as a betrayal of India’s anti-colonial legacy.
The critique extends beyond partisan politics. For many observers, the visit symbolizes a shift from India’s historic support for decolonization movements toward a pragmatic alignment with militarized nationalism.
Regionally, the trip unfolds amid rising US-Iran tensions and discussions around new economic corridors linking India to Europe via the Middle East. Israel’s leadership sees India as a crucial node in this emerging architecture.
But this architecture often sidelines Palestine. Trade corridors, AI partnerships, and defense agreements are negotiated at high levels, while Palestinian self-determination is treated as a peripheral issue.
Our Strategic Assessment
Modi’s visit must be understood not as a standalone diplomatic event but as part of a broader geopolitical recalibration.
First, it provides Israel with visible diplomatic reinforcement at a moment when accusations of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and systematic targeting of civilians dominate international discourse. Each high-level visit chips away at narratives of isolation.
Second, it reflects India’s long-term strategic priorities: diversification of defense partnerships, technological advancement, and regional positioning in a multipolar world. Israel offers advanced military technology and intelligence cooperation that New Delhi values deeply.
Third, the visit exposes the fragility of “balanced” diplomacy. While India continues to voice theoretical support for a two-state solution, its material alignment tells another story. Arms transfers, joint ventures, and high-profile endorsements during wartime weigh more heavily than carefully crafted statements at the United Nations.
For Palestinians, the message is sobering. Major powers may condemn settlement expansion in principle, but the structural partnerships that empower Israel’s military and technological dominance remain intact.
Finally, the regional context cannot be ignored. With US-Iran tensions mounting, Israel is eager to solidify alliances beyond Washington. India’s embrace signals that Tel Aviv retains powerful friends in Asia, even as European public opinion shifts.
In this environment, Palestinian rights risk becoming bargaining chips in larger geopolitical calculations.
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