How Gaza war sped up India’s shift towards Israel under Modi
India's embrace of Israel has intensified under Prime Minister Modi, particularly since the Gaza war, with New Delhi expanding business ties and defense cooperation despite international criticism of Israel's actions.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite
The Gaza war has accelerated India's pivot towards Israel, moving from a historically pro-Palestine stance to a more open and robust partnership under PM Modi. This shift aligns with Modi's domestic Hindu nationalist agenda and pragmatic security interests, even as Israel faces international condemnation.
Imagine India and Israel are like two friends. For a long time, India was careful about being too close to Israel because of a big fight Israel had with its neighbor. But after a recent big fight started, India's leader, Modi, decided to become much better friends with Israel, even when others were upset with Israel. This is partly because Modi's own country has similar ideas about being a strong nation, and they also share worries about safety.
Analysis
Bezalel Smotrich's Visit
The visit of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to India in September 2025, while he faced potential EU sanctions for advocating ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, starkly illustrates the accelerated shift in India's foreign policy towards Israel. Smotrich was welcomed with a multi-city tour, signing trade deals and visiting investment hubs, even as Israel was engaged in intense conflict in Gaza. This occurred at a time when even traditional European allies were distancing themselves from the Netanyahu government, highlighting India's increasingly robust embrace of Israel under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India's Historical Stance and Modi's Influence
Historically, India has championed diplomacy and dialogue, advocating for peaceful conflict resolution and maintaining a stance against war. However, since Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014, India's position has demonstrably shifted. The article notes that New Delhi has become Israel's largest weapons buyer, and investigations suggest India exported weapons to Israel during the Gaza war. This alignment is partly attributed to Modi's domestic political narrative, which often focuses on 'Islamist expansionism or Islamic terrorism,' a framing that resonates with the BJP's Hindutva ideology, which seeks to establish India as a Hindu nation, mirroring Israel's self-perception as a Jewish homeland.
Security Convergence and Open Relations
Beyond ideological alignment, a significant driver of the closer India-Israel relationship is a perceived convergence in security perceptions and pragmatic interests. Navdeep Suri, a former Indian diplomat, highlights that Israel is a strong defense and intelligence partner for India. The relationship, once largely covert, has become much more open under Modi. This strategic partnership is further bolstered by people-to-people ties and an admiration within certain Indian right-wing circles for Israel's assertive policies. The article suggests that the framing of Israel as a nation under attack, particularly after the October 7th Hamas attacks, has provided Modi with a justification to deepen ties, linking his foreign policy with his domestic political agenda.
Key points
- India's relationship with Israel has significantly strengthened and become more open under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The Gaza war has accelerated this shift, with India expanding business and defense ties with Israel.
- This alignment is influenced by Modi's domestic Hindu nationalist politics and a shared perception of security threats.
- India has become Israel's largest weapons buyer, and has reportedly exported arms during the Gaza conflict.
- The shift contrasts with India's historical support for Palestine and traditional diplomatic approaches to conflict resolution.
The deepening strategic partnership could lead to enhanced defense capabilities and intelligence sharing for India, potentially bolstering its security interests. Increased trade and technological collaboration might also spur economic growth and innovation for both nations.
India's closer alignment with Israel, especially during the Gaza conflict, risks alienating traditional allies and potentially exacerbating regional tensions. The country may face criticism for supporting a government accused of war crimes, impacting its standing in international forums.
