'Spoke to my great friend PM Modi,' Netanyahu tells NDTV amid Iran tensions, thanks India for support
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told NDTV that he had spoken to his “great friend” Narendra Modi, thanking him for India’s support amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking while visiting Beit Shemesh, where Iranian missile strikes hit a synagogue and killed nine people, Netanyahu said the two leaders spoke at length.
“I spoke to our great friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I spoke to him at length yesterday and thanked him for his standing with Israel, standing for the truth, and for the enormous friendship of the people of India,” Netanyahu told NDTV.
“They are much admired and loved in Israel. I won’t get into the details of the conversation, but I have spoken to him, and I have spoken to many other leaders in the region and beyond,” he added.
Netanyahu was seen walking through debris at the strike site, accompanied by security personnel, as Israel continued to face missile attacks from Iran.
The Israeli leader and Prime Minister Modi are known to share a strong personal rapport, while India and Israel maintain deep ties across defence, trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Earlier in the day, Netanyahu said the ongoing joint campaign by Israel and the United States against Iran was aimed in part at creating conditions for Iranians to overthrow their leadership.
“That day is drawing near. And when it comes, Israel and the United States will be there, together with the Iranian people,” Netanyahu told reporters from the missile-hit site.
“It is important that the Iranian people be there with us. That depends on them — we will be there.”
Since the strikes began on Saturday, Netanyahu has repeatedly urged Iranians to “cast off the yoke of tyranny,” echoing comments by US President Donald Trump, who has called on them to “take back your country.”
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said on Monday evening that Iran launched multiple missiles toward Israel, with air defence systems intercepting the threat.
Three missiles were destroyed before causing damage.
Israeli authorities have asked civilians to move into protected spaces upon receiving alerts on their mobile phones and remain there until further instructions are issued.
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