Overview

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that India welcomes the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan and called it a reflection of Benjamin Netanyahu’s strong leadership.
• Congress leader Jairam Ramesh labeled the prime minister’s unqualified praise as shocking and morally atrocious, alleging Netanyahu has driven a massacre in Gaza over the past twenty months.
• Ramesh said Modi has stayed silent on the future of an independent, sovereign Palestine, which India recognized in 1988 and which is recognized by more than 150 countries.
• The first phase of the plan, as reported, includes a temporary halt to fighting in Gaza, phased releases of hostages, and partial withdrawals of Israeli troops from parts of the territory.
• Coverage notes Modi’s statement aligns India more closely with the United States and Israel, marking a shift from New Delhi’s historically balanced stance and intensifying domestic criticism led by Congress.