‘Shameful’: Congress slams PM Modi for praising Bibi

The Congress on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “unqualified praise” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while welcoming the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s West Asia peace plan.

The party described Modi’s remarks as “shameful and morally atrocious”, accusing him of ignoring the plight of Palestinians and remaining silent on the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said it was “deeply disturbing” that the Prime Minister had expressed admiration for Netanyahu, whom he accused of “unleashing a genocide in Gaza over the past twenty months”.

“The Prime Minister has welcomed the new developments regarding Gaza and hailed President Trump. That eagerness is not surprising. But what is shocking, shameful and morally atrocious is Modi’s unqualified praise for the Israeli PM Mr Netanyahu,” Ramesh said in a statement.

He added that Modi’s silence on the future of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, recognised by India since November 1988 and supported by over 150 countries, was a “betrayal of India’s long-standing foreign policy position”.

Ramesh’s comments followed Modi’s post on X, in which the PM welcomed the agreement on the first phase of Trump’s peace plan, under which Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause fighting in Gaza.

Modi described the deal as “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,” Modi added.

The agreement, brokered by the Trump administration, includes a temporary ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners by both sides, marking the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in the two-year-long Gaza conflict.