Timeline
February 23, 2026 — February 26, 2026
World
Timeline: Indian PM Modi's Historic Second Visit to Israel (February 2026)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second visit to Israel in February 2026 marked a significant deepening of ties between the two nations, despite controversy over Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. The visit, occurring as Israel faces genocide accusations, tested India's traditional support for Palestine and its delicate Middle East balancing act.
10 events · 4 days · 8 source articles
Wed, Jan 1, 2014
Moderate
Modi and Netanyahu's first meeting sets foundation for closer ties
Modi and Netanyahu met for the first time in New York in 2014, where they agreed to 'break down the remaining walls between India and Israel.' This meeting laid the groundwork for a significant shift in India-Israel relations, moving away from India's historical distance from Israel due to its support for Palestine.
Tue, Jul 4, 2017
Major
Modi becomes first Indian PM to visit Israel
Prime Minister Modi made a historic first visit to Israel, arriving at Ben Gurion airport where Netanyahu personally greeted him with a hug. Modi called it a 'path-breaking journey,' marking a dramatic shift in India's Middle East policy. This visit symbolized India's departure from its long-standing support of the Palestinian cause.
Mon, Feb 23, 2026
Moderate
Analysts assess transformation of India-Israel relations under Modi
As Modi prepared for his second Israel visit, Al Jazeera published analysis examining how Modi had successfully 'broken down walls' between India and Israel over nine years, despite Israel's actions in Gaza. The report highlighted how India had shifted from being a long-time supporter of Palestine to becoming a close ally of Netanyahu's Israel.
Mon, Feb 23, 2026
Moderate
Modi announces upcoming two-day visit to Israel
News outlets confirmed Modi would visit Israel for two days to meet with Netanyahu and discuss strengthening bilateral ties. The visit came amid heightened scrutiny due to ongoing accusations of genocide against Israel in Gaza, raising questions about India's diplomatic positioning in the Middle East.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Major
Modi arrives in Israel for high-stakes visit
Modi arrived in Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit focused on reaffirming the countries' strategic partnership. He was scheduled to meet Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and address the Israeli parliament. India's Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the visit would address 'common challenges' and strengthen cooperation on defense, AI, and quantum computing.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Major
Modi and Netanyahu address Israeli Knesset in mutual praise
Modi became the first Indian leader to address Israel's Knesset, where both he and Netanyahu spoke of their countries in grand 'civilisational terms.' Netanyahu called Modi 'more than a friend' and 'a brother,' while Modi received a standing ovation. Modi defended Israel's war on Gaza, saying India stands by Israel 'with full conviction' despite genocide accusations.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
Moderate
Modi declares 'no cause justifies killing civilians' in Knesset speech
During his Knesset address, Modi stated that 'no cause justifies killing civilians' while simultaneously expressing India's enduring support for Israel. The speech highlighted the delicate balancing act Modi attempted between supporting Israel and acknowledging humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Moderate
Modi visits Holocaust memorial and meets Israeli leaders on Day 2
On the second day of his visit, Modi paid respects at Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. He held delegation-level talks with Netanyahu where Gaza peace initiatives and West Asia developments likely featured. Modi also met with President Herzog and prominent members of the Jewish-Indian diaspora.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Major
Visit concludes with conspicuous silence on Gaza genocide
As Modi wrapped up his two-day visit, observers noted his conspicuous silence about Israel's genocidal war in occupied Palestinian territory. The visit was marked by strong personal friendship between the two leaders and bilateral agreements on innovation and agriculture, while avoiding substantive criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.
Thu, Feb 26, 2026
Major
India and Israel pledge enhanced cooperation on trade and defense
Modi and Netanyahu concluded the visit with a joint news conference announcing closer collaboration on defense technology, pursuit of a free trade agreement, and cooperation on AI and cybersecurity. More than a dozen bilateral agreements were signed. The visit drew criticism at home amid tensions over Israel's war on Gaza, testing India's Middle East balancing act.
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