On February 25, 2026, Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to address Israel’s Knesset during a two‑day state visit to Jerusalem. His speech, which called the October 7 Hamas attacks “barbaric,” was greeted with a standing ovation. Earlier, Modi received a warm public welcome at Ben Gurion International Airport from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — a set of highly visible moments that highlighted how prominently India‑Israel ties have moved onto the world stage.
Behind the pageantry, the visit pushed a clear strategic agenda. Officials on both sides described the trip as a pivot from occasional arms sales to a more disciplined security partnership: deeper defence procurement talks, formalised intelligence sharing and coordinated research on high‑technology systems. Rather than isolated purchases, negotiators are sketching a framework for longer‑term collaboration — joint ventures, streamlined approvals for defence projects and new mechanisms to speed co‑production.
Practical steps were already on the table. Delegations discussed standardised data‑exchange protocols, faster approval pathways for dual‑use exports and specialised investment vehicles to back co‑development and start‑ups. The aim is to cut lead times and integrate Israeli subsystems into Indian manufacturing lines — from defence electronics to niche components for advanced platforms. Translating these ambitions into contracts will, however, require detailed annexes, parliamentary oversight and updated legal safeguards.
Economic and technological cooperation featured just as prominently. Leaders touted a 2026 Bilateral Investment Treaty designed to protect investors and encourage cross‑border capital flows, and opened talks toward a broader free‑trade framework. The logic is straightforward: Israel’s nimble engineering and start‑up ecosystem paired with India’s manufacturing scale and market size could accelerate commercialization of AI, quantum and other frontier technologies.
Industry analysts expect more tech‑transfer and co‑development agreements, which could help compress development cycles and move research from the lab into deployable systems faster. That speed brings trade‑offs — procurement rules, export controls and ethical frameworks will need updating to manage proliferation risks and privacy concerns as sensitive technologies travel between markets.
But the visit was far from uncontested at home. Modi’s public support for Israel’s military campaign provoked sharp criticism from human‑rights groups and opposition parties. Cited casualty figures in reporting — tens of thousands killed and many more injured, including reports of 615 fatalities during a recent ceasefire — fed protests on university campuses and street demonstrations in several Indian cities. Opposition leaders questioned the timing and optics of deepening defence ties while civilians continue to suffer, and some framed the trip as a retreat from India’s traditional backing for Palestinian self‑determination.
New Delhi’s response has been twofold: government spokespeople argue that strategic and economic engagements do not negate humanitarian concerns, and they point to investor protections and dispute mechanisms in the new treaty. Still, domestic scrutiny could slow implementation. Parliamentary debates, legal challenges or public pressure might complicate procurement timelines and investment flows, forcing the government to balance commercial ambitions with political sensitivity.
Regionally, the visit came against a backdrop of widening Middle East volatility and shifting alliances. India has tried to maintain a delicate balance — deepening ties with Israel while preserving relationships across the region. Earlier in February, New Delhi joined more than 100 countries condemning certain Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, a move that underscored India’s attempt at diplomatic equilibrium.
Modi’s trip leaves a mixed but unmistakable imprint: concrete steps toward a tighter security and tech partnership, a new investment treaty and the outlines of deeper industrial cooperation — all shadowed by domestic backlash and the moral and legal questions posed by the war in Gaza. How New Delhi navigates those tensions in the coming months will shape not just bilateral ties with Israel but India’s broader posture in a turbulent region.