India and Israel meet to deepen military ties in sign of solidarity amid Gaza atrocities

Defence affairs analysis

India and Israeli military officials have pledged to deepen and strengthen military ties even as images of Israel's engineered starvation of Palestinians continue to send shockwaves around the world. 

More than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s war on Gaza, which several countries, as well as many international rights groups and experts, now qualify as an act of genocide.

More than 115 Palestinians, including 80 children, are estimated to have died from starvation in the since October 2023, including 15 who died of malnutrition on Monday.

Earlier this week, more than two dozen countries, including France and the UK, condemned "the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food”, further calling for Israel's war on Gaza to end.

But as global condemnation and calls for an arms embargo on Israel mounted this week, on Wednesday, India's defence secretary and the director general of Israel's Ministry of Defence met in New Delhi and "agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation with a long-term perspective". 

The meeting between Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and the Israel's deputy chief of staff, Major General Amir Baram, signalled, once more, Delhi's intention to remain committed to supporting Israel diplomatically and economically even as Israel loses the support of some of its staunchest allies.

In the statement released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Wednesday, Delhi said its defence secretary "reiterated India’s zero tolerance approach to terrorism and condemned the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel and called for the release of all hostages." It also narrated Israel's "support for India's fight against terrorism".

The statement said the visit by the Israeli deputy chief of staff "marks a pivotal step in India-Israel defence relations and reinforces both sides’ commitment to enhance their strategic partnership," the statement added.

Flurry of meetings

The meeting comes as part of a flurry of diplomatic and economic exchanges between the two states over the past several weeks.

On Wednesday, Delhi's Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh held a meeting with Israeli Ambassador Reuven Azar in the capital, in which Singh reiterated the country's commitment to stand with Israel "during these difficult times”.

Singh is reported to have added that both countries shared a “strong relationship based on friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect”.

According to reports, the duo discussed using Israeli expertise to improve healthcare, education, parks, and solid waste management in Delhi. 

“With Israel being a technologically advanced country, this kind of exchange of ideas and experiences will further strengthen the functioning of the corporation,” Delhi's Commissioner Ashwani Kumar said.

The mayor's comments were promptly slammed by Indian activists based in Delhi.

A letter circulating amongst activists described Singh's comments as "a cruel, cold-blooded joke in the face of rivers of Palestinian blood."