‘Terror may strike our cities, but will never shake our souls’: Netanyahu shares message after Delhi blast; gives condolences

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all Indians on Wednesday, after deadly blast near Delhi's iconic Red Fort on Monday evening.

"To our dear friend Narendra Modi and to the brave people of India: Sara and I, and the people of Israel, send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Israel stands strong with you in sorrow and in strength in this time," the statement read, as posted on X.


Describing India and Israel as ancient civilisations bound by common values and determination, Netanyahu further reinforced the strong alliance between the two nations. "India and Israel are ancient civilisations that stand on eternal truths. Terror may strike our cities, but it will never shake our souls. The light of our nations will outshine the darkness of our enemies," he said in a follow-up post.

On Tuesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also expressed sympathies. On X, Saar wrote, "I extend my & Israel's deepest condolences to the People of India and especially to the families of the innocent victims killed in the blast at the heart of Delhi." He also wished "speedy recovery to the wounded." The Israeli Foreign Minister reinforced Israel's support, stating, "Israel stands with India in its fight against terror."

Netanyahu and Saar's message as officials conduct investigations into the incident as a potential terrorist act.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has established a "dedicated and comprehensive" investigation team to examine the Delhi car blast incident, identified as a terrorist attack by a Jaish-e-Mohammad unit discovered by Indian agencies, according to senior sources, cited by ANI.

The investigation will be conducted under the supervision of senior officers at Superintendent of Police level and above, ensuring thorough scrutiny of the case.

This development follows the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officially transferring the investigation to the NIA, considering terrorism as a potential motive behind the explosion. After receiving the case, the NIA immediately registered it and initiated a detailed investigation to identify the perpetrators and any associated networks.

The NIA team will explore various possibilities, including "whether the explosion was intentional or accidental".

The incident occurred at approximately 7 pm on Monday near the Subhash Marg traffic signal by the Red Fort, involving a slow-moving Hyundai i20 car and affecting multiple nearby vehicles, as revealed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The explosion, occurring in one of Delhi's most frequented heritage areas, has resulted in heightened security measures nationwide.

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