India and Israel on Thursday agreed to elevate their long-standing ties to the level of a “special strategic partnership” and decided to expedite the conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

PM  Narendra Modi strongly advocated for peace efforts in Gaza, emphasizing that humanity should never become a victim of conflict. His remarks came during wide-ranging talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The two sides signed multiple agreements across sectors including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, innovation, agriculture, maritime heritage, and commerce. The agreements were signed by respective ministers from both countries in the presence of the two prime ministers.

India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Israel’s MASAV also signed an agreement to link their UPI payment systems, aiming to enhance digital financial connectivity.

Earlier, Modi and Netanyahu held detailed discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in defence and security, trade, technology, and agriculture. They also exchanged views on the current situation in the Middle East and discussed advancing collaboration under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 grouping, which includes India, Israel, the UAE, and the United States.

The developments mark a significant step forward in deepening bilateral cooperation and expanding strategic engagement between the two nations.