(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Wednesday, when they discussed bilateral ties and agreed to meet very soon, according to Netanyahu’s office.

“At the end of the warm and friendly conversation, the two leaders agreed to meet very soon,” the Prime Minister’s Office in Israel said about the phone conversation.

“PM Modi reaffirmed India’s support for efforts towards a just and durable peace in the region, including early implementation of the Gaza peace plan,” a statement from Modi’s office said.

According to the statement from New Delhi, “both leaders expressed satisfaction at the continued momentum in India-Israel strategic partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening these ties for mutual benefit.”

They “strongly condemned terrorism and reiterated their zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the Indian statement said, adding they “agreed to remain in touch,” but did not mention a meeting.

Under Modi, India and Israel have significantly deepened their strategic, economic and defense ties, cooperation driven by shared security concerns and technological collaboration. Bilateral trade has surged, more than doubling since 2013 to a record-breaking $5 billion in 2024.

In 2020, India abstained for the first time on a UN resolution condemning Israeli actions in Gaza. Indian officials now openly refer to Hamas as a terrorist organization, a term they once avoided.

In 2017, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit the Jewish state. He and Netanyahu famously walked barefoot together on a beach to inspect a desalination facility. Netanyahu reciprocated the following year with a six-day visit to India.

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