New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the release of 47 Israeli hostages following the Gaza ceasefire and commended US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their leadership in restoring peace to the region.
In a post on X, Modi expressed joy over the return of the last 20 surviving hostages, who had been held by Hamas for over two years and were freed earlier in the day as part of the first phase of Trump’s Gaza peace plan. “We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the peace efforts of President Trump, and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu. India supports every sincere effort to bring peace and stability to the region,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came after a major breakthrough in the ceasefire that took effect last Friday, halting two years of intense conflict in Gaza that claimed tens of thousands of lives. Under the agreement, Israel released over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and opened humanitarian corridors for food and aid supplies into the war-torn enclave.
This is the second time Modi has congratulated Trump over his role in the Gaza peace deal. Earlier, he had spoken with the former US President to commend the success of what he described as a “historic peace plan” and discussed progress in India–US trade relations.
Meanwhile, the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and co-chaired by Trump, is being held today to chart a long-term roadmap for stability in Gaza and the wider Middle East. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is representing India at the summit as the Prime Minister’s special envoy.
