International Desk: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for Israel amid the ghastly terror attack mounted by Hamas, the Palestinian terror group controlling the Gaza Strip, is a significant shift in how India sees the Israel-Palestine conflict. The prime minister referred to the incursions as “terrorist attacks” and affirmed that India stands “in solidarity with Israel” in a post on ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, that came within a few hours after the news of the attacks broke out.
The statement calling it a terrorist attack is a confirmation that India has taken a side and this position is consistent with India’s anti-terrorism stand. PM Modi’s statement was similar to his Western counterparts with the unambiguous reference to Hamas’ transgressions as terrorism. While India maintains its position in favour of the Palestinian cause, the nature of the attack bearing resemblances to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack with infiltrators massacring civilians, appears to have compelled India to take a swift and unequivocal position in favour of Israel at this juncture, in consistence with India’s anti-terrorism stance on all global platforms.
There are a few reasons why India has backed Israel against Hamas as sympathy for the Palestinian cause nosedives.
1. India’s growing ties with Israel:
India and Israel have been developing close ties in recent years, particularly in the areas of defense and security. India is one of the largest importers of Israeli arms, and the two countries have cooperated on a number of joint military exercises and training programs. This growing relationship has led to India taking a more favorable view of Israel on a number of international issues, including the conflict with Palestine.
2. India’s concerns about terrorism
India has been a victim of terrorism for many years, and it has a strong interest in combating terrorist groups like Hamas. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by India and the United States, and India has been supportive of Israel’s efforts to combat Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region.
3. India’s declining support for the Palestinian cause
In the past, India was a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. However, in recent years, there has been a decline in support for the Palestinian cause among Indians. This is due to a number of factors, including the growing perception that the Palestinian leadership is not interested in a peaceful settlement with Israel, and the rise of Islamic extremism in the Palestinian territories.
4. The changing global geopolitical landscape
The global geopolitical landscape is changing rapidly, and India is keen to align itself with the major powers. The United States is a strong supporter of Israel, and India does not want to alienate the US by taking a more critical stance on Israel’s policies towards Palestine.
It is important to note that there are still many Indians who support the Palestinian cause. However, the overall trend is that India is becoming more supportive of Israel and less supportive of Palestine. This is due to a number of factors, including India’s growing ties with Israel, its concerns about terrorism, its declining support for the Palestinian cause, and the changing global geopolitical landscape.