After Trump, PM Modi Dials Israel’s Netanyahu, Congratulates Him On Gaza Peace Plan

PM Modi’s call to Netanyahu came shortly after he congratulated US President Donald Trump on the peace plan over the telephone.  (Reuters File Image)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on the Gaza peace plan.

PM Modi’s call to Netanyahu came shortly after he congratulated US President Donald Trump on the peace plan over the telephone.

The Prime Minister said India welcomes the agreement on the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

He also reaffirmed that “terrorism in any form or manifestation is unacceptable anywhere in the world.”

Besides the Gaza ceasefire, PM Modi also discussed India-US trade negotiations with Trump.

“Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan. Also reviewed the good progress achieved in trade negotiations. Agreed to stay in close touch over the coming weeks,” the PM said on X.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi lauded Netanyahu and said that the peace plan is a reflection of his strong leadership.

“We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu. We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace,” he said.

Israel and Hamas on Thursday agreed on the first phase of ceasefire deal, hinting towards an end to two years of war. Under the deal, Hamas will release hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The war, which began with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has also triggered other conflicts in the region and sparked worldwide protests.

In Israel’s offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded during the war, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of the deaths were women and children.

US President Donald Trump is likely to travel to Egypt next week, after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended an invitation to attend celebrations over a Gaza ceasefire deal.

“The President is really excited to come to Egypt, and that is the plan, that he comes next week,” US envoy Steve Witkoff said in a meeting with Sisi, a video of which was released by the Egyptian presidency.

Sisi’s office said he invited Trump to “participate in the celebration to be held in Egypt to mark the conclusion of the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”, the first phase of which has been signed during talks in Egypt.