India once stood with Palestine. It was not just lip service: in the years of Nehru and Indira Gandhi, India spoke with moral authority against colonialism, apartheid, and occupation. Palestine was not just another cause; it was seen as part of India’s own story of freedom from empire. For decades, India stood firmly with Palestinians at the United Nations, even when it meant breaking with Washington and paying a diplomatic price. That India is gone.

Today, under Narendra Modi, India has abandoned that history and embraced Israel like never before. It is not just about buying weapons or sharing intelligence. It is an ideological, political, and economic embrace. The recent agreement signed in New Delhi by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — one of the most extreme figures in Israel’s cabinet, and India’s Minister of Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman is not a minor event. It is a symbol of what India has become. The deal aims to boost trade and investment flows, but the timing is what matters: Israel is accused of war crimes in Gaza, and its leaders are under investigation at the International Criminal Court, yet India is rolling out the red carpet.

At the same time, India’s voting pattern at the UN tells its own story. After three years of abstaining on resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, suddenly New Delhi voted for a two-state solution. At first glance, this may look like balance, even moderation. But in reality, it is a calculated move: a fig leaf to cover India’s deepening complicity with Israel. The Modi government wants to keep its Western partners happy by appearing “reasonable” while cementing its partnership with Tel Aviv behind closed doors.

This hypocrisy must be called out. You cannot court Israel’s far-right ministers, expand military and corporate........

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