Netanyahu Pauses Key Israeli Security Meet On Gaza Deal To Speak With PM Modi

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday paused the security cabinet meeting on the ceasefire and hostage-release deal in Gaza to speak over the phone with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, The Times of Israel quoted his office as saying.

“Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu on the agreement reached for the release of all the hostages,” the statement read.

According to a report by The Times of Israel, Netanyahu thanked his Indian counterpart “for his support of Israel, and the two agreed to continue working in close cooperation”.

During the telephonic conversation Modi “noted that Netanyahu has always been a close friend and that their friendship will remain strong”.

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.