Use of 'Terror Attack', No Mention of Palestine: Decoding PM Modi's 2 Statements on Israel-Hamas War

Two statements issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last three days have underlined a key point–that India is firmly against the “terrorism” perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli soil. India has univocally termed the Hamas onslaught on Israel on October 7 a “terror attack”, and neither of PM Modi’s statements so far has mentioned Palestine.

It seems that India is drawing a distinction between the “two-state solution” that the Modi government has backed in the past, and a dastardly terror attack by Hamas that specifically targeted innocent civilians, including women and children. “We are against terror, and with Israel. That is what we are simply saying. No one can, and should, justify the events of October 7 which saw killings and abductions of civilians. We do not need to say more,” a government source told News18.

Prime Minister Modi’s October 10 statement after a telephonic talk with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu added the point that India denounced terrorism “in all forms and manifestations” to clearly accept no justification for the October 7 attack. A second Indian source explained to News18 that India itself has been the victim of similar terror incidents like the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, and hence will stand with Israel against Hamas, and also as a wider message to other sponsors of terrorism like Pakistan.

The October 7 strike was reminiscent of the 26/11 attacks–Hamas used gliders in the air and ground forces to infiltrate and attack Israel, with citizens being shot inside their homes and on the streets, while in Mumbai, the terrorists came by sea from Pakistan–the source said.

India’s stand is in line with major Western powers on this issue. However, the Foreign Ministry has issued no official statement of its own so far on the issue and there is a nudge now from West Asian nations to India to come out with a more nuanced statement on the matter. The Foreign Ministry has so far cited the PM’s statement.

Underlining ‘terror’

PM Modi’s first statement on October 7 said India was “deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel…our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”

On October 10, Modi spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “PM expressed deep condolences and sympathy for those killed and wounded as a result of the terrorist attacks in Israel and conveyed that people of India stand in solidarity with Israel in this difficult hour. He reiterated that India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the government statement said.

Both these statements have hence focused on denouncing the “terror act” of October 7. By adding the term “terrorism in all forms and manifestations” on October 10, India has made its stand clearer. Experts have described these attacks in Israel as equivalent to the 9/11 attacks on the USA by al-Qaeda. Congress leaders, while citing the CWC resolution that has batted for Palestine, are pointing out how PM Modi visited Palestine in 2018 and advocated for the “two-state solution”. However, the BJP government is clear that it is focusing on the October 7 “terror attack” by Hamas on Israel at present.

Safeguarding Indian citizens

Significantly, PM Modi also highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel during his talk with Netanyahu who has assured full cooperation and support, the Indian statement said. “The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch,” the government said.

The Israel foreign ministry has also thanked PM Modi for his statement on Tuesday after his conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Hundreds of Indian students and citizens are in Israel and the government is planning a rescue effort for them.