New Delhi

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday highlighted the parallels between the Holocaust and modern acts of terrorism, underscoring the country’s understanding of the suffering caused by such atrocities.

Speaking at a Holocaust memorial event organised by the Israeli embassy, Misri reflected on how the Holocaust began not with mass killings but through words of hatred, dehumanisation, and exclusion.

“The Holocaust did not start with the taking of lives. It began with speech—words filled with hatred, with prejudice, with exclusion. It started when discrimination became institutionalised, and when silence replaced conscience,” he said.

Misri drew attention to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of roughly 1,200 Israeli citizens and the abduction of hundreds as hostages. He noted that, as Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azar pointed out, this single day saw more deaths than any other in Israel since the Holocaust.

“India, too, has suffered from such senseless brutality,” Misri said, alluding to the country’s own experiences with cross-border terrorism. “We empathise deeply with those facing similar tragedies.”

The Foreign Secretary emphasised that terrorism in all its forms must be unequivocally condemned, leaving no room for justification.

He also expressed support for the Gaza Peace Plan, describing it as a constructive framework for lasting regional stability. “We are encouraged by the recent progress under this plan and hope these efforts will translate into concrete and durable solutions, paving the way for peace,” he added.

Misri further pointed to the enduring historical ties between India and Israel, which have grown into a strong strategic partnership. “As committed partners, we are advancing collaboration across multiple domains, guided by our shared democratic values,” he said.

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International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed on January 27 each year, commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by Soviet forces in 1945 and honours the memory of six million Jews, along with millions of others, who were killed during the Nazi regime.