Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday shared a video of himself wearing traditional Indian attire ahead of a joint dinner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing it as a special gesture for his "friend".
"Before our joint dinner, I surprised my friend Prime Minister Modi by wearing traditional Indian attire," Netanyahu wrote in a post on X.
बहुत ही शानदार!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 26, 2026
भारतीय परिधान के प्रति आपका ये लगाव हमारे देश की समृद्ध संस्कृति और परंपराओं के प्रति आपके सम्मान को दर्शाता है। @netanyahu https://t.co/YxbNVqwyTi
Prime Minister Modi responded warmly to the gesture, writing, "Truly splendid! Your fondness for Indian attire reflects your respect for the rich culture and traditions of our country."
The exchange quickly drew attention online, highlighting the personal rapport between the two leaders during Modi's visit to Israel.
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Modi addresses Knesset in historic visit
The gesture came as Prime Minister Modi addressed a Special Plenary session of the Knesset, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to speak before Israel's Parliament.
Welcoming him, Netanyahu described Modi as a close ally and praised India's support for Israel following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
"Prime ministers and heads of state come to the Knesset and it's always an exciting moment for all of us. But my dear friend Narendra, I'm especially moved by your visit. You are a great friend of Israel and a great leader at the world stage....Narendra, you are more than a friend. You are a brother," Netanyahu said.
Recalling past moments
The Israeli Prime Minister also reflected on Modi's 2017 visit to Israel, recalling a widely shared moment between the two leaders.
"We took off our shoes, and waded in the ocean. We didn't walk on water but have done miracles," he said.
Highlighting India's response after the Hamas attack, Netanyahu added, "Right after the horrific attack on October 7, you supported Israel so morally. You didn't flinch or waver, you stood by Israel and stood by the Jews. Thank you."
He also referenced their greeting earlier in the day, saying, "Today at the airport we embraced each other. It's called a Modi hug. I want to return a hug here from every Knesset member. It represents the warmth between us."
Focus on cooperation
In his address, Prime Minister Modi thanked the Knesset for the honour and dedicated the Speaker of the Knesset Medal to the enduring friendship between India and Israel. He highlighted growing cooperation in innovation, agriculture, water management and security, while reiterating India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and offering condolences for victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.
