Netanyahu Proposes “Hexagon of Alliances” with India Ahead of Modi’s Historic Visit

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a bold strategic vision termed the “Hexagon of Alliances,” positioning India as a cornerstone of a new regional security axis. This announcement came just days before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Wednesday, February 25, for a landmark two-day visit.

The “Hexagon” Vision: A New Strategic Axis

Netanyahu described the proposed alliance as a system of six key pillars designed to counter “radical” regional influences.

• The Members: India, Arab nations, African nations, Mediterranean nations (Greece and Cyprus), and unnamed Asian powers.
• The Goal: To create a “rational” coalition against the “radical Shia axis” and the “emerging radical Sunni axis.”
• Modi’s Visit (Feb 25–26): PM Modi will be the first foreign leader to address the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) in this new term. Discussions will focus on high-tech, AI, Quantum Computing, and deepened defense cooperation.

Why This Is Dangerous for Pakistan

The formalization of an India-Israel “axis” presents several existential and strategic threats to Islamabad:

• Strategic Imbalance: Pakistan has long warned that Indo-Israeli defense cooperation—particularly in satellite surveillance (TecSAR), missile defense, and UAV technology—creates a severe military imbalance in South Asia.
• Hybrid Warfare & Intelligence: Recent reports suggest that the collaboration now extends to cyber-intelligence and “narrative-building.” Islamabad has specifically raised concerns about Israeli-made surveillance tools being deployed along its western borders and the potential for “sub-conventional” operations.
• The “Two-Front” Pressure: By securing a “Hexagon” that includes some of Pakistan’s traditional Arab allies, India effectively isolates Pakistan diplomatically in the Middle East. If India gains a permanent strategic footprint in the Mediterranean and Gulf through this alliance, Pakistan’s leverage as a “security provider” to the Muslim world diminishes significantly.
• Ideological Alignment: Pakistani analysts often point to the “convergence of Hindutva and Zionism” as a shared ideological framework that justifies hardline military actions in both Kashmir and Palestine, potentially normalizing “exceptional violence” in the name of counter-terrorism.

The Threat to the Palestinian Cause

For Palestine, the “Hexagon” alliance is seen as a mechanism to bypass the traditional “land-for-peace” formula:

• Dilution of Solidarity: As India (the world’s most populous nation) shifts from its historical pro-Palestine stance toward a “Strategic Embrace” of Israel, the Palestinian leadership loses its most influential advocate in the Global South.
• Legitimizing Occupation: Observers note that Netanyahu’s framing of the alliance as a “rational axis” against “radicalism” is an attempt to rebrand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By making Israel a central hub for security and innovation (AI/Quantum), Netanyahu aims to make the “Palestinian issue” irrelevant to the national interests of global powers like India.
• Economic Corridors vs. Human Rights: The alliance aligns with the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor). Palestinian officials fear that economic connectivity will be used as “political cover” to finalize the annexation of the West Bank and Gaza while the world focuses on trade routes.
• Military Hardware in Gaza: Reports from 2024–2025 indicated that “Made in India” munitions and drone parts were used in operations in Gaza. The further tightening of this “tremendous alliance” ensures a steady, less-scrutinized supply chain for the Israeli military.

Key Dates to Watch

• Feb 25, 2026: PM Modi arrives in Tel Aviv; address to the Knesset.
• Feb 26, 2026: Joint Innovation Summit in Jerusalem.
• March 2, 2026: Expiration of the “10-day ultimatum” issued to Iran by the U.S. (Trump), which this new India-Israel axis will likely be positioned to support.

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