Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, for a two-day visit – his first to the country since a landmark trip in 2017. The visit comes as the United States considers military action against Iran, and amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, raising the stakes for India’s strategic partnership with Israel.
The trip marks a significant shift in India’s foreign policy, moving away from its historical alignment with Palestine. For decades, India maintained a strong relationship with the Palestinian cause, a position articulated by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1983, who voiced support for the “brave, homeless and much harassed Palestinian people.”
However, relations began to evolve in the 1990s, with the establishment of diplomatic ties predicated on the belief that a relationship with Israel could aid the Palestinian cause. According to accounts from the time, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was informed by then-Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1992 that establishing relations with Israel would allow India to exert influence on Israel, specifically if New Delhi had an ambassador in Tel Aviv.
Modi’s 2017 visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel, publicly cemented a relationship that had previously operated largely out of view. That trip, characterized by a display of personal rapport between Modi and then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – including a walk on the beach with rolled-up sleeves – signaled a new era of cooperation. Since then, trade between the two countries has grown from $200 million in 1992 to over $6.5 billion in 2024, with significant increases in defense cooperation and technological partnerships.
The current visit is taking place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions. The possibility of a U.S.-Iran conflict and the ongoing situation in Gaza have underscored the importance of India’s strategic alignment with Israel, particularly in the realm of defense. India, having recently experienced a clash with Pakistan in May, seeks to bolster its defense capabilities, and Israel is seen as a key provider of advanced defense systems and weaponry compatible with India’s existing military infrastructure.
During his visit, Modi is scheduled to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. However, opposition lawmakers have threatened to boycott the session in protest against Netanyahu, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Analysts suggest this boycott could provide India with a degree of cover should Modi need to alter his plans quickly.
Netanyahu has publicly framed India as part of an “axis of nations committed to stability,” highlighting the shared interests between the two countries. Ambassador JP Singh has described the visit as “historic,” emphasizing the shared stance on terrorism. The visit is intended to build upon the strategic partnership established in 2017 and move it into a “new phase.”
