UPDATE - Modi hails ties with Israel in 1st address by an Indian premier to Knesset

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By Ahmad Adil and Tarek Chouiref

NEW DELHI/ISTANBUL (AA) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed his country’s relations with Israel in an unprecedented address Wednesday to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

The two nations are "linked by ties that go back more than 2,000 years," Modi told Israeli lawmakers during his two-day trip to the country.

He is the first Indian prime minister to address the Israeli parliament.

His Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the Knesset, saying India "stood by" Israel.

Modi also hailed US President Donald Trump's Gaza plan, which he said “offers a pathway” to peace.

He said the plan "holds the promise of a just and durable peace for all the people of the region, including by addressing the Palestine issue."

“We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction in this moment and beyond," he told Israeli lawmakers.

In its war on Gaza, the Israeli army has killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 171,000 others in a two-year offensive since October 2023.

Turning to economic matters, Modi said: “We are committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows, and promoting joint infrastructure development."

"Our teams are working hard to negotiate an ambitious free trade agreement. It will unlock the vast untapped potential in our trade relationship.”

Hailing the transfer of agri-tech know-how to India from Israel, Modi also referred to defense and security ties between the two countries, including a pact signed last November to boost ties in these sectors.

“In today's uncertain world, a strong defense partnership between trusted partners like India and Israel is of vital importance,” he said.

"India's connection to this land (Israel) is also written in blood and sacrifice. During World War I, more than 4,000 Indian soldiers laid down their lives in this region. The cavalry charge at Haifa in September 1918 remains a significant chapter in military history," he added.

At the conclusion of the special Knesset session, Speaker Amir Ohana presented Modi with what he described as the “Knesset Medal,” calling it the highest distinction the parliament can confer and saying it was being awarded for the first time in its history in recognition of Modi’s contribution to India-Israel relations, according to Hebrew-language media reports.

Opposition lawmakers, however, questioned whether such a medal formally exists within the Knesset’s regulations, arguing that it is not listed in official parliamentary procedures and did not receive committee approval.

Israel’s Channel 15 described the move as unprecedented.