New Delhi – While Western nations including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada moved to ban Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over his calls for Palestinian displacement and West Bank annexation, India offered a starkly different reception. In September 2025, as the European Union prepared bloc-wide sanctions against Smotrich and fellow far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli official embarked on a multi-city tour across India. He was greeted with garlands, signed trade agreements in New Delhi, visited the Mumbai stock exchange, and traveled to Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to explore investment opportunities at a new hub.
This warmth came even as Israel conducted military operations in Gaza, resulting in significant civilian casualties on the very days Smotrich was in India. For decades, New Delhi was a staunch advocate for Palestine, while Europe stood as a key ally of Israel. However, since Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in 2014, India’s posture has shifted dramatically. Analysts suggest that the Gaza war has further entrenched this alignment, particularly as traditional Israeli supporters in Europe have begun to distance themselves from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
In February of this year, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit Israel since 2017. During his address to the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, Netanyahu, who is currently facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza, hailed Modi as a brother rather than merely a friend. The visit underscored a growing intimacy between the two leaders despite Netanyahu’s increasing isolation on the global stage.
Shifting from Covert Ties to Open Partnership
The strategic pivot is underpinned by defense and intelligence cooperation. Under Modi, India has transformed from a historical supporter of Palestine into Israel’s largest arms buyer. Investigations by Al Jazeera and other outlets have revealed that India continued weapons exports to Israel throughout the conflict in Gaza. This contrasts with New Delhi’s long-held diplomatic stance that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue rather than force.
Navdeep Suri, a former Indian ambassador to Egypt and the UAE, noted that the relationship has evolved from a covert arrangement to a transparent partnership. He cited a genuine convergence on security perceptions, describing Israel as a potent defense and intelligence partner. Additionally, Suri highlighted the role of people-to-people ties, particularly among segments of Indian society that admire Israel’s “muscular” policy approach.
Domestic Politics and Ideological Convergence
Political analysts argue that Modi’s foreign policy is deeply intertwined with his domestic agenda. Rasheed Kidwai, a New Delhi-based analyst, pointed out that the BJP’s political base has historically framed its narrative around countering Islamist extremism. The October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas provided a framework that allowed Modi to align India more closely with Israel’s position.
“Like you, we have a consistent and uncompromising policy of zero tolerance for terrorism with no double standards,” Modi told Netanyahu during his February visit, drawing parallels to the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Kidwai observed that the BJP sees political capital in linking Israel’s struggle against terrorism to its own domestic narrative regarding Muslim communities. He noted that the Indian Hindu right has long supported Zionism, viewing it as analogous to the concept of Hindutva, which seeks to establish India as a Hindu nation.
Suri added that within Indian right-wing circles, there are frequent calls for Modi to emulate Israeli strategies, particularly regarding governance in Kashmir and relations with Pakistan. This ideological synergy complements the pragmatic benefits of the alliance.
Divergence from Western Allies
India’s alignment stands in sharp contrast to the actions of its Western partners. At least eleven European countries and Canada have imposed trade restrictions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and sanctioned officials implicated in violence against Palestinians. India, however, has limited its responses to diplomatic homilies and mild criticism, continuing to advocate for a two-state solution while avoiding condemnations of settler violence or military actions in Gaza and against Iran.
Suri argued that political alignment between New Delhi and Jerusalem creates a reluctance to criticize Israeli policies. “The refusal to criticise the settlers’ attacks; refusal to criticise the brutal use of force in Gaza; refusal to criticise the attack on Iran,” Suri listed as examples of this hesitation. He suggested that unlike Western governments, which may engage in more dynamic policy adjustments, India’s current leadership remains dogmatic in its support.
A Historic Reversal
The current closeness marks a significant departure from India’s post-independence foreign policy. India opposed the creation of Israel in 1948 and maintained clandestine ties with the Jewish state only from the 1970s onward. New Delhi was among the first nations to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian statehood, and it was the first non-Arab country to do so. It only established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992.
Even the Congress party, which dominated Indian politics for most of the post-independence era, viewed support for Palestine as politically advantageous due to India’s large Muslim population. Kidwai noted that Modi’s Hindu-nationalist politics operates differently, thrivng on distinguishing itself from Muslim voters. “Modi’s party believes it stands to gain nothing from a pro-Palestine posture,” Kidwai said, adding that the Prime Minister has instead sought to associate the conflict with broader narratives of terrorism and extremism to justify his political agenda.
So Europe sanctions him while India trades with him? If Western allies are distancing themselves from Netanyahu, why is India doubling down on this alliance?
The ideological convergence between Hindutva and Zionism is undeniable here. Modi is clearly prioritizing domestic political narratives over traditional non-alignment.
It is shocking that Smotrich was welcomed with garlands while Indian troops continued selling arms during the Gaza conflict. The hypocrisy is staggering.
This is a clear reversal from India’s historical stance. I hope New Delhi doesn’t lose sight of its long-standing diplomatic principles for short-term gains.