Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem, where he laid a wreath in memory of Holocaust victims.

Modi was accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan during the solemn ceremony. The visit included a tour of the “Book of Names,” a monumental installation that preserves the names of 4.8 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and a memorial ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance. The Prime Minister also signed the Yad Vashem guest book.

This marks Modi’s second visit to the memorial, having previously toured the site in July 2017 during his earlier visit to Israel.

A solemn reminder of history

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the visit reflected a shared commitment to uphold peace and human dignity. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that the memorial stands as a powerful reminder of the brutality of the past and the collective resolve to stand against injustice.

During his 2017 visit, Modi had described Yad Vashem as both a poignant reminder of “unspeakable evil” and a symbol of the endurance of the Jewish people. He wrote that remembering the injustices of history is essential to empowering future generations to make compassionate and righteous choices.

Strengthening India-Israel ties

The tribute comes during Modi’s two-day State Visit to Israel. He was accorded a grand welcome in Tel Aviv by Netanyahu and later addressed a special plenary session of the Knesset in Jerusalem — the first such address by an Indian Prime Minister.

India and Israel have deepened cooperation across defence, innovation, agriculture and technology in recent years, with both nations emphasising shared democratic values and historical connections.