Jerusalem: As Israel ramps up efforts to retaliate against Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli government has pressed India to officially declare the Palestinian militant group as a “terrorist organization.”
This call comes in light of growing concerns over Hamas’ increasing ties with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) and Iranian proxies, which are seen as security threats by both India and Israel.
Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, a senior official from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Our request is that India should work towards designating organizations like Hamas as terrorist groups.”
This plea follows Israel’s past actions, where it labeled LET as a terrorist organization several years ago. Israel believes that after the devastating October 7 attack by Hamas, India should follow suit and take similar steps. In 2023, a month after the attack, Israel formally recognized LET as a terrorist organization.
In the past, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had urged India to take stronger action against Hamas, including imposing sanctions and severing ties with the group. Now, Israel’s government is seeking an official declaration from India, underscoring the growing concern over regional security.
India and Israel both face significant threats from groups like Hamas and LET, which operate across international borders. Referring to these growing ties between Hamas and Pakistani and Iranian militant groups, Israeli officials argue that it is in both countries’ interest to tackle these alliances head-on.
Speaking further, the Israeli official said, “It is important to make a clear statement about who we are facing. If India declares Hamas as a terrorist organization, it would be a positive step. This is not only about protecting assets or preventing militants from entering India but also about clearly recognizing the nature of what Hamas is doing.”
Israel believes that recognizing Hamas for what it truly is—an extremist group committed to violence—would not only solidify India and Israel’s security efforts but would also set a powerful precedent in countering extremism on a global scale.
As of now, both India and Israel are united by a common adversary in the form of Hamas, and the international community is awaiting India’s stance on this pressing issue.
