“A Betrayal Of India’s Civilisational Ethos… Simply Unconscionable”

The Congress on Monday mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited India as one of Israel’s strongest international supporters, accusing the Centre of abandoning India’s long-standing moral and diplomatic principles through its silence on Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the wider West Asia.

The opposition party said Netanyahu’s remarks did not reflect the sentiments of the Indian people and argued that while the Modi government may have strengthened ties with Israel, millions of Indians do not support its military campaign in Gaza or its actions elsewhere in the region.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing criticism of the Prime Minister, saying Netanyahu was wrong to suggest that India stood firmly behind Israel.

“Mr Netanyahu is wrong. Undoubtedly, Israel is embedded in the Modani empire and Mr Narendra Modi is blindly devoted to him. But crores of Indians condemn Israel’s genocide in Gaza that has not spared even children, its forcible dispossession and displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, its heavy aerial bombardments of Iran that has included targeted assassinations, and its brutal military offensive in southern Lebanon. These are all assaults on humanity itself,” Ramesh said.

He further accused the Prime Minister of abandoning India’s civilisational values by remaining silent on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“The self-styled, award-hungry Vishwaguru’s stony silence on Israel’s actions is a betrayal of India’s civilisational ethos and values. It is simply unconscionable,” Ramesh said.

The Congress leader also dismissed Netanyahu’s praise of India, arguing that international recognition from the Israeli Prime Minister carried little significance given the criticism Israel has faced globally over its military operations.

“Getting a certificate from Netanyahu is no badge of honour,” Ramesh said, adding that the Israeli leader was becoming increasingly isolated on the international stage, including among some of Israel’s traditional allies.

The Congress has repeatedly criticised the Modi government’s position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, maintaining that New Delhi has departed from India’s historic support for the Palestinian cause and its emphasis on peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Netanyahu cites India as key supporter amid debate over Israel’s global backing

The Congress reaction came after Netanyahu, during an interview with Fox News’ Sunday Briefing, highlighted India while responding to remarks made by US Vice-President J.D. Vance regarding Israel’s international support.

Rejecting the suggestion that the United States was Israel’s only major ally, Netanyahu said, “We have some other friends, like a small country called India… it has 1.4 billion people and, boy, do we have tremendous support there.”

The Israeli Prime Minister also claimed he receives widespread backing from India on social media, saying he enjoys “overwhelming support” from Indian users on Facebook.

Netanyahu’s comments were widely seen as a response to observations made by Vance last month during discussions on US-Iran diplomacy.

Speaking about reports that Israeli leaders had expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing US-Iran negotiations and had publicly criticised US President Donald Trump, Vance had cautioned Israel against straining ties with Washington.

“If I was in the Cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world,” Vance had said.

The Congress used Netanyahu’s remarks to renew its criticism of the Modi government’s foreign policy, alleging that India’s muted response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Israel’s military operations across the region has weakened the country’s traditional diplomatic position.

According to the party, India has historically advocated peace, justice and a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict while maintaining support for Palestinian rights. Congress leaders argued that New Delhi’s present approach, characterised by its silence on the ongoing conflict, marks a departure from that legacy.

The latest exchange adds another political dimension to the ongoing debate over India’s foreign policy in West Asia, where the Modi government has sought to deepen strategic ties with Israel while also maintaining relations with Arab nations. The Congress, however, contends that this balancing act should not come at the cost of speaking out on humanitarian concerns and upholding India’s long-standing diplomatic principles.