‘Modi! Modi!’ Chants Echo In Knesset As Israeli Lawmakers Line Up For Selfies With India’s PM | Watch

Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 11:39 IST

PM Modi addressed a packed Knesset chamber, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked into the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament rose to its feet in a coordinated standing ovation. The chamber echoed with chants of “Modi! Modi!" as lawmakers clapped in unison.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted him with a warm embrace, while Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana described the Indian leader as “a defining statesman of our time."

After concluding his address, members of Parliament lined up to meet him. Videos of the moment went viral on social media. Ministers and lawmakers queued to greet him and take photographs, with several seen taking selfies as he interacted with them.

PM Modi addressed a packed Knesset chamber, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. His speech highlighted the strong bond between the two democracies and reaffirmed mutual support for peace and progress.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and India’s Ambassador to Israel Jitender Pal Singh were present at the Parliament.

Warm words from Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised PM Modi during the visit. Welcoming the Indian PM, he pointed out that the Prime Minister’s saffron pocket square matched his wife’s orange jacket. 

Describing PM Modi as “more than a friend", Netanyahu thanked him for standing by Israel after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, in which nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed and about 250 were kidnapped.

“Prime ministers and heads of state come to the Knesset and it’s always an exciting moment for all of us. But my dear friend Narendra, I’m especially moved by your visit. You are a great friend of Israel and a great leader at the world stage. Narendra, you are more than a friend. You are a brother," Netanyahu said.

He also referred to their embrace at the airport as a “Modi hug" and said he wanted to return a hug from every Knesset member to represent the warmth between the two countries.

India stands ‘firmly’ with Israel

During his address, PM Modi said India stands “firmly" with Israel. He carried condolences from the people of India for every life lost and for families affected by the October 7 attack.

“We feel your pain, we share your grief. India stands with Israel firmly with full conviction in this moment and beyond," he said.

PM Modi did not explicitly mention the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza during the more than two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Prime Minister is in Israel on a high-profile two-day visit, his second after the landmark 2017 trip. He met Netanyahu to deepen trade and defence ties, a move that has drawn criticism at home.

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