The PM was one of the first world leaders to term the Hamas assault on Israel a terror strike.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was one of the first world leaders to call out the October 7 assault by Hamas on Israel as a terror attack, has condemned Tuesday’s strike on a hospital in Gaza, which killed 500 people.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the PM said he was “deeply shocked” by the deaths in the attack and extended his condolences to the families of those killed.
Even as Israel and Palestine remain locked in a blame game over who was responsible for the horrific hospital strike, PM Modi raised concern over civilian casualties in the war and called for those involved in the attack to be held responsible.
“Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible,” the Prime Minister posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured.
Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 18, 2023
The post came at nearly the same time as US President Joe Biden landed in Israel on a visit which is meant to show solidarity with the country.
India’s Stand
In a post soon after Hamas launched 5,000 rockets at Israel in 20 minutes and began a multi-pronged attack by land, air and sea on October 7, PM Modi had said he was “deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel” and expressed India’s solidarity with the country in the difficult hour.
In an interview with The Hindkesharion Tuesday, Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon had referred to this statement and said that India’s quick condemnation of the Hamas terror attacks has earned it a place on the table when it comes to resolving the current crisis.
Asserting that Israel trusts India, Mr Gilon had said, “We saw the incredible emotional support to Israel. I think that people, like PM Modi and India, who were fast to condemn the terror attack as a terror attack, which not everyone did in the beginning, they bought themselves the right around the table. In the sense that they understood the situation,” Mr Gilon said.
Several other officials in Israel also welcomed India’s condemnation of Hamas’ attacks and said that it had earned the country a lot of goodwill at a time when India and Israel have been getting closer. They also pointed to the good relationship between PM Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.