The Congress party has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his address to Israel’s Parliament, saying the speech has “diminished India’s moral standing” on the global stage.
Reacting to Modi’s remarks before the Knesset, Congress leaders accused the government of abandoning India’s long held position of supporting Palestinian rights while maintaining diplomatic ties with Israel. They said India’s foreign policy tradition was built on balance and justice, and not on taking sides in an ongoing conflict.
In a statement, the opposition party argued that the Prime Minister’s speech failed to acknowledge the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the suffering of civilians. Congress leaders said India, as a country with a history of standing against colonialism and oppression, should speak firmly for peace and international law.
“The Prime Minister’s address projects India as indifferent to human rights violations and weakens our credibility among developing nations” a senior Congress leader said. The party claimed that India’s reputation as a moral voice in world affairs was being eroded by what it called “One sided diplomacy”.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party rejected the criticism, saying Modi’s visit and address were aimed at strengthening strategic and economic ties with Israel. Government sources said India continues to support a two state solution and has consistently called for dialogue and restraint.
During his speech, Modi highlighted the shared values of democracy between India and Israel and emphasised cooperation in defence, technology and innovation. However, the Congress said such cooperation should not come at the cost of silence on civilian suffering and violations of international law.
Foreign policy experts noted that India has traditionally maintained relations with both Israel and Palestine, projecting itself as a neutral and principled actor. They warned that visible shifts in tone could affect India’s standing in West Asia and among non-aligned and Global South nations.
The political exchange comes at a time when global scrutiny over the Gaza conflict is intensifying and governments face pressure to clarify their positions. The Congress said it would continue to raise the issue in Parliament, demanding that the government explain whether India’s long standing policy on Palestine has changed.
