On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, commending US President Donald Trump for his relentless peace initiatives and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his strong leadership. In a message on X, Modi affirmed the nation’s backing of Trump’s dedication to achieving peace in the region. “We welcome the release of all hostages after more than two years in captivity. Their freedom reflects the courage of their families, President Trump’s tireless pursuit of peace, and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s steadfast determination,” Modi wrote.
The release occurred after Hamas freed the last 20 Israeli captives, indicating a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza that escalated after the attacks on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,219 fatalities, predominantly among civilians, and 251 hostages being taken. Trump recently revealed that Israel and Hamas had reached an initial agreement on a ceasefire plan that includes the release of hostages and prisoners. This agreement came after extensive negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm al-Sheikh resort. During his address to Israel’s Parliament, Trump hailed the situation as the end of a “painful nightmare,” celebrating the safe return of hostages alongside the concurrent release of Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.
His visit occurs before a peace summit in Egypt, where India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh will represent PM Modi.
