PM Modi Israel visit live: India stands with Israel in this moment and beyond, reiterates PM Modi in Knesset

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with “Speaker of the Knesset Medal” by the Israeli Parliament on Wednesday.

PM Modi said that India will be among the top three economies globally. “My first visit to Israel was in 2006 as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Later in 2017, during my visit to Israel as Prime Minister, the two countries elevated the relationship to a strategic partnership. Since then, our engagement has expanded in scale and scope,” he said.

“For the last few years, India has been the fastest-growing major economy in the world. Soon, we will be among the top three economies globally. At the same time, Israel is a powerhouse of innovation and technological leadership,” PM Modi added.

• Both nations have signed multiple free trade agreements.
• Defence and security are important pillars of our ties.
• Israel is a powerhouse of innovation and technology.
• India and Israel have elevated strategic ties.

PM Modi said India supports the Gaza peace initiative, and expressed belief that it holds the promise for a just and durable peace for the region.

M Modi on Wednesday said he was born on the same day that India formally recognised Israel. The Prime Minister condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas as “barbaric”, while saying India “stands firmly” with Israel “with conviction in this moment and beyond.”

• India stands with Israel during these trying times.
• I strongly condemn October 7 Hamas attack.
• India shares Israel's grief.
• India like Israel has suffered from terrorism.
• I back all measures to ensure security and safety in the region.
• Jewish community has lived peacefully in India, they have integrated into the Indian society.

• Israeli PM hails relations between New Delhi and Tel Aviv.
• India and Israel have performed miracle.
• Netanyahu hails 'Modi hug', says it has inject a personal touch in global diplomacy.
• Israeli PM thanks PM Modi for standing by Israel in trying times.
• India and Israel are gigantic powers.
• PM Modi and I worked extremely hard to boost ties.
• Both countries have multiple shared interests.
• Jews were never persecuted in India.

• Israeli Parliament echoes with chants of 'Modi Modi'.
• Knesset Speaker says Modi is a transformational leader of 21st century.
• Speaker says Modi has transformed India with his visionary policies.
• Speaker says PM Modi played a crucial role in cementing strong India-Israel ties.

PM Modi arrives at Israeli Parliament

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it has been more than 24 hours since he challenged the PM to scrap the India-U.S. interim trade deal, and once again, he (PM Modi)has “quietly slipped off to Israel”.

The streets of Tel Aviv were filled with a sense of profound pride and shared heritage as members of the Indian diaspora and local residents gathered to celebrate the historic arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"My wife Sara and I welcomed today our good friend, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, who has arrived for another historic visit to Israel. Prime Minister Modi previously visited Israel in 2017, and I later paid a reciprocal visit to India that was truly exceptional. We share a close personal relationship, speak often, and I believe that the deep friendship between us powerfully reflects on the ties between our two countries. We will attend a festive reception at the Knesset, visit an innovation event in Jerusalem, and host Prime Minister Modi for a joint dinner. Tomorrow we will visit Yad Vashem, and afterwards hold another meeting together with our teams, during which we will sign a series of agreements in the economic, security, and diplomatic spheres that will further advance cooperation between Israel and India."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnesses cultural performances as he arrives at a hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel. He also interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora.

Modi's Israel visit aims to strengthen strategic ties amid West Bank tensions and discuss cooperation in various sectors.

"It’s a great honor to welcome you to Israel, Prime Minister Modi. आपका स्वागत है..." read Benjamin Netanyahu tweet.

"I am extremely honoured to be received by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Mrs. Netanyahu at the airport. I look forward to engaging in bilateral discussions and fruitful outcomes that strengthen the India-Israel friendship," tweeted PM Modi.

The official X handle of PM of Israel shared that the two leaders will sign a series of agreements between Israel and India in economic, security, and diplomatic fields, which will boost cooperation between the two nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received ceremonial welcome after landing in Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with his wife Sara Netanyahu, received PM Modi at the airport.

In his departure statement, the Prime Minister said India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism, and he is looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. During the visit, Modi will also meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

PM Modi lands in Israel on his second visit as PM.

"PM Modi should raise the issue of the genocide of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza. He should also put pressure there to end this situation through peaceful dialogue," said Congress MP Tariq Anwar.

The Supreme Court of India today stayed criminal proceedings initiated against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in a case arising out of a complaint filed by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) over his alleged failure to comply with its summons in connection with a land acquisition probe.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant passed the interim order while issuing notice to the ED on Soren’s plea challenging the proceedings. Recording the submissions, the court said, “Counsel accepts notice on behalf of ED.

Counter affidavit shall be filed in four weeks. A rejoinder, if any, in two weeks thereafter.”

Soren had approached the apex court after the Jharkhand High Court declined to stay the criminal proceedings in the case related to alleged disobedience of ED summons.

Granting interim relief, the Supreme Court stayed further proceedings against the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader pending consideration of the matter. Further hearing in the case is expected after the ED files its response.

The Delhi High Court has held that a mere break-up does not automatically amount to abetment of suicide under criminal law, granting bail to a man accused of driving his former partner to take her life.

Justice Manoj Jain made the observation while hearing the bail plea of the accused, whose former partner died by suicide five days after his marriage to another woman.

Granting relief, the court said that for a charge of abetment to stand under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the alleged instigation must be of such a degree that it leaves the deceased with no option but to commit suicide.

“Though broken relationships and heartbreaks have become common these days, mere breaking-up of relationship may not per se constitute instigation so as to make it a case of abetment,” the court observed in its February 24 order.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant today took strong exception to content in an National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Class 8 textbook that refers to “corruption in judiciary,” saying he would not allow any attempt to defame the institution.

Observing that the reference appeared to be a “calculated measure,” the CJI indicated that the Supreme Court could initiate suo motu proceedings in the matter.

“I will not allow anyone to defame the institution. I know how to deal with it,” the Chief Justice remarked in open court, signalling that the issue may be taken up independently by the apex court.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking the renaming of Delhi to “Indraprastha,” citing the capital’s ancient civilisational roots.

In his letter, Khandelwal argued that the current name reflects only a limited phase of the city’s long history, rather than its deeper cultural and historical legacy.

“As such, the name ‘Delhi’ reflects a limited historical period rather than the deeper and more enduring legacy of the city. Restoring the name Indraprastha would therefore reconnect the capital of modern India with its ancient civilizational foundation,” the letter states. He further wrote that renaming the city would symbolise that “the seat of the world’s largest democracy stands upon the legacy of one of humanity’s

Discussions are expected to cover defence and security collaboration, science and technology, innovation, trade, agriculture and water management. The visit follows the signing of a defence memorandum of understanding during the 17th Joint Working Group meeting on Defence Cooperation last November. While additional agreements may be announced, officials have indicated that no major standalone defence deal is anticipated during this trip.

PM Modi is slated to address the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and hold delegation-level talks with Netanyahu aimed at advancing cooperation across key sectors. He will also meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog and interact with members of the Indian diaspora in Israel.

PM Modi Israel visit live updates: PM emplanes for two-day state trip to Israel

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for a two-day State visit to Israel around 9 am today, marking his second official visit to the country and another milestone in the deepening India-Israel strategic partnership.

In his final moments at the podium, US President Trump returned to familiar themes from his inaugural speech, invoking the spirit of taming the frontier, expanding American innovation and developing next-generation rockets. He again spoke of ushering in a “Golden Age” of America, framing his agenda as a revival of national strength, exploration and economic dominance.

US President Trump presented the Medal of Honor during his address to Royce Williams, a decorated Navy fighter pilot who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

Williams, best known for his combat service during the Korean War, received a standing ovation from lawmakers as Trump highlighted his decades of military service and heroism.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., attended the State of the Union wearing a “Release the files” pin featuring a blacked-out line before the word “files,” signaling a redacted reference.

Several other Democrats — including Reps. Jamie Raskin and Rashida Tlaib — were also seen wearing the pins in the chamber.

The display comes as Democrats and some Republicans have intensified calls on the Justice Department to release additional files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Several House Democrats invited survivors of Epstein’s abuse as their guests for the president’s address.

The House chamber broke into cheers after President Donald Trump announced that Enrique Márquez, a former Venezuelan political prisoner and outspoken critic of Nicolás Maduro’s regime, was in the gallery for the address.

In a surprise moment, Trump revealed that Márquez’s nephew, Alejandro, also a guest, was unaware his uncle would be present, prompting an emotional reunion that drew applause from lawmakers across the chamber.

Trump sharpened his tone on Iran during his address, appearing to lay the groundwork for a more confrontational stance. He pointed to Tehran’s alleged attacks on U.S. troops, its backing of violent proxies across the Middle East, and what he described as the regime’s “bloody suppression” of domestic protests.

Calling Iranian leaders “terrible people,” Trump framed the conflict as both a security threat abroad and a moral issue tied to human rights abuses at home.

Trump singled out Secretary of State Marco Rubio for high praise during his State of the Union address, telling him, “Marco, you have done a great job. Great Secretary of State. I think he’ll go down as the best ever.”

Rubio received one of the loudest ovations of the night, rivaled only by the applause earlier for Team USA.

Trump asked members of Congress to stand if they believed “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” prompting a sharp partisan split in the chamber.

Republicans rose to their feet and applauded for several minutes, while most Democrats remained seated. Trump then rebuked them, saying, “You should be ashamed of yourselves, not standing up.”

As he continued speaking, some Democratic lawmakers began shouting. Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) repeatedly yelled, “You have killed Americans!”

“We saw the videos too … you are killing Americans!” Tlaib shouted.

After Trump told Democrats they “should be ashamed,” Omar responded by yelling back, “You should be ashamed!”

President Donald Trump called on Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require Americans to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.

While most states already mandate some form of identification at polling stations and federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting, Trump argued stricter requirements are needed.

“Why would anybody not want voter ID? One reason — because they want to cheat, there’s only one reason,” Trump said. He dismissed criticism of voter ID laws as unfounded, saying opponents “make up all excuses” and label such measures “racist.”

During his remarks, Trump also referenced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him the “new communist mayor of New York City.” The president noted that city officials recently required identification for residents seeking payment for snow-shoveling work.

“I think he’s a nice guy,” Trump said of Mamdani. “Bad policy, but nice guy.”

Democrats and Republicans rise to their feet as the president calls to “totally reject political violence of any kind.”

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) heckled President Donald Trump during his 2026 State of the Union address, repeatedly demanding he release the Epstein files.

“These people are crazy, I’m telling you. They’re crazy,” Trump said, gesturing toward Democrats. “Boy, oh boy, we’re lucky. We have a country with people like this. Democrats are destroying our country, but we’ve stopped it just in the nick of time, didn’t we?”

Tlaib persisted, shouting: “How about those Epstein files?” Lawmakers including Tlaib and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) were wearing buttons reading “Stand with survivors, release the files.”

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, received a standing ovation from Republicans—and a few Democrats—during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

Trump described her late husband as “martyred,” prompting some Republicans in the chamber to break into chants of “Charlie! Charlie!”

Trump also announced a new initiative called the “Rate Payer Protection Pledge”, aimed at requiring technology companies to supply their own power for the massive data centers driving the artificial intelligence boom.

The announcement comes amid growing voter backlash over AI data centers, which consume enormous amounts of electricity and have been linked to higher utility bills for consumers. Trump emphasized that the pledge would ensure tech companies shoulder the energy costs of AI development rather than passing them on to American households.

A cornerstone of Trump’s economic agenda has been promoting rapid AI growth while keeping regulatory barriers low. With the pledge, the administration hopes to balance accelerated technological development with consumer protection.

Trump’s move follows similar efforts from state leaders, including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who have introduced measures to curb electricity bill spikes associated with AI data centers.

US President Donald Trump’s 63-minute State of the Union address has already surpassed the durations of those delivered by Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, according to data from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

While some of Barack Obama’s speeches ran longer, his average State of the Union lasted 62 minutes, making Trump’s address one of the longest in recent presidential history.

During his State of the Union address, Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan), seated next to each other, vocally opposed President Donald Trump while he discussed immigration enforcement.

“You have killed Americans,” Omar shouted, referencing deaths linked to immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. Tlaib joined in, yelling, “Shame on you for killing Americans,” as the president continued his remarks on immigration policy.

During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump again referred to Minnesota’s Somali community as “pirates,” repeating language he has used in recent weeks.

“The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception,” Trump said. “Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA.”

The remarks came in the context of a fraud scandal in Minnesota, which involved several dozen individuals, including some Somali immigrants. Trump further blamed Somali and other undocumented immigrants for higher medical bills, car insurance rates, rent, taxes, and crime.

“We can take care of this problem,” he added. “We are not playing games.”

Trump announced a major initiative during his State of the Union address, proposing new retirement accounts modeled on federal employee plans, which would be available to a wide range of Americans.

Trump indicated that the federal government could contribute $1,000 per account, though such funding would likely require approval from Congress.

Trump referenced his TrumpRX initiative during the 2026 State of the Union, joking that he “should be in my third term in office.”

“So in my first year of the second term — should be my third term. But strange things happen,” Trump said, drawing attention to the remark. Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, and under the 22nd Amendment, presidents are limited to two terms.  The US president has previously mused about a third term, though last year he acknowledged it was “pretty clear I’m not allowed to run” again.

Trump highlighted the stock market’s performance over the past year during his 2026 State of the Union address, saying, “The stock market has set 53 all-time record highs since the election. Think of that, one year, boosting pensions, 401(k)s and retirement accounts.”

According to CFRA Research, the S&P 500 gained 16.39% in 2025, hitting 39 record highs last year. The index reached a few more peaks in January 2026 but has largely traded sideways so far, up just 0.65% for the year.

Trump credited the market gains to recovery from last year’s tariff turmoil, enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, strong corporate earnings, and select Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

President  Trump addressed last week’s Supreme Court decision striking down his tariffs, saying, “Just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court. It just came down, very unfortunate ruling.”

The remarks came as Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, John Roberts, and Brett Kavanaugh were present in the chamber. All but Kavanaugh voted with the majority to strike down the tariffs, with Chief Justice Roberts authoring the opinion.

Democrats in the audience applauded the mention, while the justices maintained their usual neutral expressions.

Addressing the 2026 State of the Union, President Donald Trump highlighted his administration’s economic record, saying the Biden administration and its allies in Congress had caused “the worst inflation in the history of our country.”

Trump claimed that in the past 12 months, his administration had brought core inflation down to its lowest level in over five years, with the last three months of 2025 seeing inflation at 1.7%. He also noted improvements in fuel prices, stating that gasoline, which peaked at over $6 a gallon in some states under his predecessor, is now below $2.30 a gallon in most states, with some areas seeing prices as low as $1.85 a gallon, citing his recent visit to Iowa.

Just minutes into President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, Representative Al Green of Texas was escorted out of the House chamber for displaying a sign reading, “Black people aren’t apes.”

“I wanted the president to see it, and he saw it, and I told him, Black people are not apes, and for him to do what he did was racist, and he knows it. But sometimes we have to let him know in the public that we know it,” Green has been cited by CNN after being removed.

A senior Democrat and outspoken critic of Trump, Green is known for his repeated calls to impeach the president and prior disruptions of Trump’s speeches at the US Capitol.

US President Trump announced during his State of the Union address that Connor Hellebuyck, the U.S. women’s hockey team goalie, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This marks the second time Trump has presented the award during a State of the Union; in 2020, he awarded it to conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh shortly after Limbaugh was diagnosed with cancer.

During his State of the Union address, President Donald Trump paused to recognise the achievements of the U.S. women’s hockey team, which recently won gold. The team was unable to attend the event, hence, Trump to ask the chamber to give them a round of applause in their honour.

Trump praised the achievements of his first year back in office, declaring, “Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages.”

He added, “And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago. We're not going back. Today, our border is secure.”

The repeated use of the phrase “we’re not going back” notably echoes former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign slogan.

Trump, in his address, hailed the US' toppling of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He stated that the move has yielded oil, more than 80 million barrels of it, "from our new friend and partner, Venezuela," where he has left the regime in place.

The US President has begun speaking. "This is the golden age of America," he opens his speech.

President Donald Trump walked into the chamber to a loud and enthusiastic reception from Republican members, greeted with a roaring round of applause.

President Donald Trump is expected to describe the past year of his term as “a transformation” and “a turnaround for the ages.” Excerpts from his prepared speech indicate he will say, “We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago.”

Trump is also set to highlight generational responsibility, noting that every generation since the nation’s founding has “stepped forward to defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” for the next generation, adding that it is now “our turn.”

On the economy, Trump will claim that with “a president who puts America first,” the U.S. will witness “factories, jobs, investment, and trillions of dollars continuing to pour in.” He will contrast this with previous decades, stating, “From trade to healthcare, from energy to immigration, everything was stolen and rigged in order to drain the wealth out of the productive, hardworking people who make our country run.”

His economic remarks come amid declining approval ratings.

First Lady Melania Trump has entered the chamber and taken a seat beside her son, Barron Trump. Shortly after, President Trump’s cabinet members followed, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.