Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday. Both leaders reviewed the progress in the India-Israel Strategic Partnership and discussed new ways to deepen cooperation. They also repeated their firm, joint stand against terrorism.
An official statement said Modi and Netanyahu were satisfied with the current momentum in bilateral ties. They agreed to strengthen the partnership further for the benefit of both countries.
India Supports Early Implementation of Gaza Peace Plan
Modi reaffirmed India’s backing for efforts to secure a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East. He stressed the importance of quickly implementing the Gaza Peace Plan. Both leaders strongly condemned terrorism and repeated their “zero-tolerance” approach toward all forms of violence. They agreed to stay in touch.
Ceasefire Plan Faces New Tensions
The conversation came soon after Netanyahu said he expected the second phase of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire plan to begin “very shortly”. However, Hamas claimed the plan could not move forward because Israeli “violations” continued. The group urged mediators to press Israel to follow the agreement.
Netanyahu’s Visit to India to Be Rescheduled
Netanyahu’s office earlier confirmed that it is coordinating with India to fix a new date for his postponed visit. The trip, planned for December, was delayed without an official explanation.
Despite the delay, Israel stressed that ties with India remain strong. It said the Israeli leader has “full confidence” in India’s security under Prime Minister Modi. A statement on X read, “Israel’s bond with India and between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Prime Minister @narendramodi is very strong. The PM has full confidence in India’s security under PM Modi, and teams are already coordinating a new visit date.”
Reports Linking Delay to Terror Attack Dismissed
Some media reports suggested the postponement was due to “security concerns” after a deadly terror attack in New Delhi two weeks ago that killed at least 15 people. But sources told CNN-News18 that these claims were “misleading and factually incorrect”. They advised against linking the attack with the delay.