JERUSALEM: Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout from the Knesset plenum on Wednesday evening, skipping speeches by Speaker Amir Ohana and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protest the exclusion of High Court President Isaac Amit from a special legislative session honoring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The entire opposition in Israeli Parliament walked out just before Modi was about to speak. pic.twitter.com/YgenVPCBNA
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) February 25, 2026
The walkout highlighted growing tensions between Israel’s government and judiciary, after Justice Minister Yariv Levin refused to recognize Amit’s authority following his appointment in January 2025.
Several ministers, including Amichai Chikli and Shlomo Karhi, have also urged the government to disregard certain court rulings, deepening concerns over a constitutional crisis.
During his speech, Modi told Israeli lawmakers that India stands “firmly” with Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, a statement that has triggered criticism due to the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza during Israel’s ongoing military campaign.
Addressing the Knesset, Modi expressed condolences for Israeli victims and pledged unwavering solidarity.
“We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly, with full conviction in this moment and beyond.”
However, Modi did not explicitly mention the tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza, where entire neighborhoods have been flattened, and humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated.
He stated only that India supports efforts toward “durable peace and regional stability,” a phrase critics say falls short of acknowledging the scale of suffering in the enclave.
Backlash in India Over Civilian Casualties
I hope that the Hon Prime Minister @narendramodi ji mentions the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza while addressing the Knesset on his upcoming trip to Israel and demands justice for them. India has stood for what is right throughout our history as…
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 25, 2026
Opposition leaders in India sharply criticized Modi’s stance. Congress figure Priyanka Gandhi urged him to acknowledge the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza, while Congress lawmaker Jairam Ramesh accused him of “moral cowardice” for embracing Netanyahu despite global condemnation of Israel’s military actions.
The criticism reflects broader unease in India, home to more than 200 million Muslims, where public opinion remains divided over the government’s increasingly close alignment with Israel.
