Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned the "barbaric terrorist attack" by Hamas on October 7, 2023, saying, "We feel your pain, we share your grief." He was speaking while addressing the Israeli parliament Knesset.
"No cause can justify the murder of civilians. Nothing can justify terrorism," Modi said. "India has also endured the pain of terrorism for a long time. We remember the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the innocent lives lost, including Israeli civilians."
After his address, Modi was conferred with the Speaker of the Knesset Medial by Israel's parliament, becoming the first Indian PM to receive the legislature's highest honour.
Conveying the greetings of 1.4 billion Indians and a message of friendship, respect and partnership, he said it is an honour to speak as a representative of one ancient civilisation addressing another.
"India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment."
"Countering terrorism requires sustained and coordinated global action, because terror anywhere threatens peace everywhere. The road to peace is not always easy, but India joins you and world for dialogue, peace and stability in this region," he added.
"When you signed the Abraham Accords, we applauded your courage and vision," adding that it is a moment of new hope for a long-troubled region.
Talking about trade, the PM said, "Our engagement has expanded in scale and scope, and we are committed to further consolidate this relationship across many sectors."
Before his speech, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana called PM Modi a staunch ally of Israel, pointing out that he was the first Indian leader to visit Israel when he arrived in the country in 2017. Now, Modi made history again by becoming the first Indian leader to address the Knesset.
“It is a great honour for us to welcome the leader of the world’s largest democracy: the prime minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi. Namaste! For Prime Minister Modi, leadership is not just managing a country, but inspiring a nation,” says Ohana.
“For over two thousand years, India has given Jews a home, and in our darkest hours, a refuge. India’s ancient Jewish communities helped build this country and continue to enrich it with Indian culture, cuisine and warmth. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established early, but it was the two prime ministers, Modi and Netanyahu, who forged a true strategic partnership,” he added.
“The friendship between our two nations has stood the test of our shared fight against terrorism. After the October 7 massacre, Prime Minister Modi was one of the first leaders to condemn the atrocities of Hamas and stood in brotherhood with the citizens of Israel. Just as we stood by India in its difficult hours after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008 and in Pahalgam last year. Both our nations are forced to fight terrorism and both, God willing, will continue to prevail.”
