‘Responsible for murder of hundreds of Indian civilians’: Israel lists Lashkar-e-Taiba as terror organisation

Part of Israel’s global diplomatic campaign to isolate Hamas, Tel Aviv’s measure – without an Indian request – is being welcomed in New Delhi. Though there was no official statement on the Israeli announcement, sources said New Delhi and Tel Aviv have been on the same page on Pakistan-based terrorist outfits and Pakistan-sponsored terrorist activities in India.

Since both Indian and Israeli citizens were directly targeted during the 26/11 attacks – in which nationals of both countries were killed and Israelis were taken hostages in Chabad House in Mumbai – there is a great deal of alignment on the issue of terrorism.

Making this announcement, Israel’s embassy in New Delhi said, “To symbolize the marking of the 15th year of commemoration of the Mumbai terror attacks, the State of Israel has listed Lashkar-e-Taiba as a Terror Organization.”

“Despite not being requested by the Government of India to do so, the State of Israel has formally completed all necessary procedures and has satisfied all required checks and regulations to the result of introducing Lashkar-e-Taiba into the Israeli list of illegal terror organizations,” it said.

“While Israel only lists terror organizations who are actively operating against it from within or around its borders, or in a similar manner to India – those globally recognized by UNSC or the US State Department; the Israeli ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs, have jointly worked in the last few months towards an expedited and extraordinary listing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba organization on this date, to highlight the importance of a Unified Global Front in combating terrorism.”

“Lashkar-e-Taiba is a deadly and reprehensible terror organization, responsible for the murder of hundreds of Indian civilians as well as others. Its heinous actions on November 26, 2008 still reverberate in force, through all peace seeking nations and societies,” it said.

“The State of Israel offers its sincere condolences to all victims of terrorism and to the survivors and bereaved families of the Mumbai attacks, including those in Israel. We stand with you united in the hope for a better peaceful future,” the statement said.

Israel’s move comes at a time when it has asked India to proscribe Hamas as a terrorist outfit. Last month, while interacting with journalists, Israel’s ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, said that time has come for India to proscribe Hamas as a terrorist organisation like many other nations have done.

US, UK, European Union, Canada, Australia, Japan are among the countries and groupings that have designated Hamas as a terror outfit.

The Israeli envoy, at an interaction with journalists, also thanked India for its “100 per cent” support to Israel in its anti-terror operations against Hamas.

Gilon said Israel conveyed to relevant Indian authorities to declare Hamas as a terrorist organisation following its attack on Israel on October 7.

At the same time, he indicated that the matter was taken up earlier as well.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to condemn the terror attack… India is a very important moral voice in the world and the important countries for us are with us…It is time for India to declare Hamas as a terrorist organisation in India,” he said, adding that many countries have already done that.

“India is solidly supporting us in our counter-terror operations,” he had said.

India has condemned the October 7 attacks as “terrorist attacks”, but has not named Hamas in its official statements.

While Israel and the US have drawn parallels between Hamas and the Islamic State and Al Qaeda, Delhi has been careful in its framing.

For Delhi, listing Hamas as a terrorist outfit is a complicated affair since India has to be mindful of interests and sensitivities on the other sides – Arab world, Iran and many in the Global South.

India had designated ISIS through the Home Ministry’s process of listing using the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 (UAPA), the Indian law has very local requirements for groups to be added to the terror list – which includes having activities such as operations, finances, and recruitment within Indian territories where Indian laws are applicable. And, there is no evidence so far that Hamas has done and violated Indian laws so far.

Delhi is trying to balance the different sides in the conflict, with Israel on one side and the Muslim-majority countries on the other side – Saudi Arabia to Iran, the entire polarised spectrum –all of whom have been critical of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to Israel’s military offensive – in different ways. In this context, Delhi’s diplomatic tightrope walk will be tested, when it considers the issue of Israel’s request, in lieu of LeT’s listing by Israel.