Islamabad, 13 Oct 2023: The ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, marked by a significant and unprecedented military force, has drawn both worldwide censure and, in contrasting vein, support from specific quarters. Notably, on the Indian X platform (formerly known as Twitter), Hindutva activists in India have demonstrated substantial support for Israel, even as it faces global reprobation for its aggressive actions in occupied East Jerusalem and the continuous bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to a press release from Kashmir Media Service (KMS).
Trending hashtags such as #ISupportIsrael, #IndiaWithIsrael, #IndiaStandsWithIsrael, and #IsraelUnderFire have pervaded Indian social media throughout the previous week, with many posts categorizing Palestinians as “terrorists,” echoing the term utilized by Israel for Palestinian resistance groups. Concurrently, #PalestineTerrorists became one of the top trends on Twitter within the South Asian nation.
The barrage of Israeli air attacks on besieged Gaza, where 2 million people reside in the occupied West Bank, has resulted in at least 1537 Palestinian casualties, including 500 children, and over 6612 others being wounded. Despite this, Hindutva supporters from India have consistently expressed their endorsement for Israel. This support has been notably proliferated on social media platforms, especially Twitter and Instagram, by prominent members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), journalists, and lawyers, among others.
Rana Ayyub, an Indian journalist and writer, noted a discernible pattern upon examining handles tweeting #IndiaStandWithIsrael, identifying a “visceral hatred for Muslims and a bloodlust to see Muslims massacred and shown their place.” Moreover, Tejasvi Surya, a BJP Member of Parliament renowned for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, articulated his support for Israel via Twitter, stating, “We are with you. Stay strong, Israel.”
The ties between India and Israel have significantly solidified over recent decades, particularly under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. A momentous event in this relationship was marked in July 2017, when Modi, who considers Netanyahu among his “friends,” became the first-ever Indian prime minister to visit Israel.
The shift in India’s policy towards Israel, identified as having initiated in 1991, was noted to be motivated by a “keenness to be a subordinate ally of the US.” The alliance entered the composite matrix of the United States and Israel, intertwining political and ideological affinities. The Hindutva project’s unabating admiration for Israel, albeit lacking a substantial geopolitical foundation, perpetuates based on a fragile ideological alliance. A particular faction of polarized Hindutva groups extends their support for Israel’s actions against Palestine, chiefly motivated by the persecution of Muslims.
Despite the overarching support, criticisms towards this stance have also found a voice on the platform. One Twitter user denounced it as “shameful diplomacy. Spineless act by the Indian govt.”