New Delhi:

The Israeli embassy said on Wednesday that it collaborated with Indian security forces in conducting a joint security drill with an objective to counter potential future security threats.

The drill was conducted in Delhi last week.

The exercise witnessed the involvement of various agencies, including the Delhi Police, the National Security Guard and local emergency services, the embassy said.

Israeli envoy Naor Gilon said the joint security drill marked a significant milestone.

“This joint security drill with Indian security forces marks a significant milestone. We extend our gratitude for their efforts,” he said.

“These collaborative exercises strengthen our nations’ cooperation in security and defence and reinforce our shared commitment to global stability. We remain steadfast in our determination to foster continued collaboration for a safer world,” Gilon added.

The embassy said the primary objective of the drill was to assess and synchronise the readiness of the security forces to counter potential future threats effectively.

“Over day and night sessions held at the Israeli embassy in New Delhi, participants practised response strategies to potential terrorist incidents,” it said.

“Elite units from the participating agencies were activated in simulated scenarios, while the Delhi Traffic Police managed traffic control in the vicinity,” it said.

“The exercise served as a platform for both Israeli and Indian forces to refine their coordination, communication and operational procedures, thereby strengthening their joint efforts against terrorism,” the embassy said in a statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The first batch of over 60 Indian construction workers is going to Israel, Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon said on Tuesday.

In a post on X, he hoped that the workers would become ‘ambassadors’ of the great people-to-people relations between the two countries.

He said the workers are going to Israel under the framework of a government-to-government agreement and complimented India’s National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for the initiative.

“Today we had a farewell event from the first batch of 60+ Indian construction workers going to Israel under the G2G agreement. This is an outcome of hard work of many, including @NSDCINDIA,” Gilon said.

Today we had a farewell event from the first batch of 60+ Indian construction workers going to Israel under the G2G agreement.
This is an outcome of hard work of many, including @NSDCINDIA.
I’m sure that the workers become ‘ambassadors’ of the great P2P relations between . pic.twitter.com/S94OQz4BTG

— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) April 2, 2024

“I’m sure that the workers become ‘ambassadors’ of the great P2P relations between India and Israel,” he said.

There is no official announcement yet on firming up any government-to-government agreement on employment of Indian workers in Israel.

Following the Israel-Hamas conflict, there were media reports that said the Israeli construction industry is looking at recruiting 100,000 Indian workers to replace the 90,000 Palestinians. Last month, India said it is focusing on ensuring the safety and security of all its citizens in Israel in the wake of the death of an Indian in that country in a missile attack reportedly launched by Hezbollah.

“We have over 18,000 caregivers and other professionals in Israel. Their safety and security is of prime concern for us,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said on March 8.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India on Friday said it is focusing on ensuring the safety and security of all its citizens in Israel following the death of an Indian in that country in a missile attack reportedly launched by Hezbollah.

“We have over 18,000 caregivers and other professionals in Israel. Their safety and security is of prime concern for us,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.

Pat Nibin Maxwell, hailing from Kerala, was killed in the missile attack that hit an orchard at Galilee in northern Israel on March 4.

The missile was reportedly fired from Lebanon by Hezbollah militant outfit in support of Hamas.

After the death of Maxwell, the Indian embassy in Israel issued an advisory urging Indians, especially those working in or visiting border areas in north and south Israel, to relocate to safer areas.

Jaiswal said the Indian embassy in Israel is doing its best to ensure the safety of all the Indians in that country.

“They’ve opened a helpline. We have issued an advisory for their safety and security,” he added.

Referring to the advisory, Jaiswal called on Indians in Israel to exercise caution.

“A helpline is there, if anybody needs help, they can contact the embassy,” he said.

Asked about Israel looking at recruiting Indians to replace Palestinian workers following the Israel-Hamas conflict, Jaiswal said the government-to-government agreement for movement of people is still in the works.

Israel has been continuing its military offensive in Gaza as part of its retaliation to the unprecedented attack on Israeli cities by Hamas on October 7.

Hamas killed around 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 220 others some of whom were released during a brief ceasefire.

Over 29,000 people have been killed in Gaza in the Israeli offensive, according to the Hamas-run authorities in Gaza.

India has been calling for de-escalation of the situation and creating conditions for an early resumption of direct peace negotiations towards a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India said Thursday it had “always advocated… direct negotiations towards establishing… a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine”. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said India is aware of a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law.

Describing India’s position on the Palestine issue as “longstanding and consistent”, Mr Bagchi had said the government would like to see negotiations leading to a Palestine state “living within secure and recognised borders, side-by-side (and) at peace with Israel. That position remains the same.”

READ | “Always Advocated” Independent Palestine At Peace With Israel, Says India

The government’s comments follow earlier statements offering unequivocal support for Israel and no mention of Palestine, which was criticised by opposition politicians and civil society activists.

In his first remark on the Hamas’ October 7 strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared himself “deeply shocked” by the attack, which he swiftly identified as a “terrorist” action.

READ | “Deeply Shocked”: PM Modi After “Terrorists Attacks” On Israel

On Tuesday the Prime Minister spoke to his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the phone, and said, “India stands firmly with Israel… strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism…”

READ | “India Stands Firmly With Israel”: PM Modi To Netanyahu

The two sets of comments are similar, in that both call out the global evil that is terrorism, but the emphasis this week on “a sovereign… and viable state of Palestine” has been seen as a significant opening of India’s position on the war, which broke as Delhi seeks a bigger Middle East role.

It has been seen as a recalibration of stances in light of Israel’s devastating response.

India’s initial response was seen as one dictated by both humanitarian concern for thousands killed or injured in Israel, and by growth of friendly ties under the Modi and Netanyahu governments.

However, as the situation evolves, and if Arab states that have so far been relatively quiet about the assault on Gaza start to speak up, Delhi may find itself in a difficult situation.

It has multiple strategic, economic and cultural interests with the Arab nations. And then there is oil; India imports the bulk of its oil from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. If this is stopped or reduced (for any reason), increased imports from Russia can offset some but not all.

India also has historically close ties with Palestine; in 1974 India was the first non-Arab state to recognise it as the “legitimate representative” of the Palestinians and, in 1988, as a full State.

Those ties have continued under the Modi government with the late Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj visiting Palestine in 2016 and the then Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visiting India in 2017.

PM Modi returned Mr Abbas’ visit a year later, when he said India hoped to see an “independent Palestinian state living in an environment of peace”.

In fact, it isn’t just PM Modi’s BJP government that has called for “an independent state”.

In 1977, when the late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of the BJP’s tallest leaders, said that for the Middle East issue to be resolved “Israel must vacate Palestinian land it has illegally occupied”.

That video re-emerged on social media this week as the Israel-Hamas hostilities escalated.

‘For permanent peace in the Middle-East, Israel must vacate Palestinian land it has illegally occupied.’

— Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when he became India’s External Affairs Minister, at a rally in Delhi in March 1977. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/Fildbp9qiD

— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) October 8, 2023

Also, the sum of India’s two responses so far reflects more balanced statements made in May 2021, when violence over a volley of rockets by Hamas and subsequent Israel air strikes left nearly 300 dead.

On that occasion India criticised both sides.

India’s second, and more balanced response, to this round of war between Israel and the Hamas has been seen as significant also because of the domestic political row the conflict triggered.

After a statement defending their right to “live with dignity and respect, the opposition Congress was accused by the BJP of supporting terrorism and being a “hostage to minority vote bank politics”.

READ |Explained: Why Congress Is Under Fire Over Its Statement On Israel War

Over 1,500 Gazans have been killed in Israeli air strikes so far, ahead of what will be a bloody ground incursion. And, following a “complete siege”, over two million people are without electricity and are low on food, water, medicines and other essentials, raising fears of mass starvation and deaths.

Hamas’ attacks killed over 1,200 people, including civilians, and they took around 150 hostages.

The threat of that ground incursion escalated sharply today after Israel ordered 1.1 million Gazan civilians in the north to move southwards, despite no clarity on any cessation in aerial strikes.

READ | NDTV Explains: Israel Orders A Million Gazans To Flee, Where Will They Go?

The United Nations has condemned Israel’s demand, which has also been rejected by the Hamas.

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