Fact Check: Israeli Opposition Did Not Boycott Prime Minister Modi in Parliament

A viral video circulating on social media claimed that opposition leaders in Israel’s parliament walked out in protest during Narendra Modi’s address, suggesting they were boycotting his visit. However, multiple independent fact-checks show that this assertion is false.

What the Video Actually Shows

The footage in question does show members of the Knesset walking out of a session during Modi’s state visit on February 25, 2026 — but crucially, the walkout did not occur while Modi was speaking.

Instead, opposition lawmakers left the chamber earlier, during remarks by:

• Benjamin Netanyahu, and

• **Amir Ohana.

This was part of a planned protest related to internal Israeli political issues — specifically, opposition to the decision not to invite the Supreme Court President to the special session.

Opposition Returned for Modi’s Speech

After the Netanyahu and Ohana speeches concluded, the opposition lawmakers returned to the chamber to attend Modi’s address. Opposition leader Yair Lapid was seen greeting Modi, shaking hands, and explicitly clarifying that the earlier protest “had nothing to do with [Modi]” and was tied to domestic parliamentary protocol disputes.

Lapid also spoke in support of the India-Israel relationship during the session, underscoring that the protest was not directed at the Indian leader.

Why the Walkout Happened

The opposition’s temporary exit was tied to frustration within Israeli politics, especially over the exclusion of Supreme Court leadership from the session — which opposition parties saw as a breach of established protocol. They chose to return specifically for Modi’s remarks to show respect for bilateral ties between the two nations.

Conclusion

The claim that Israeli opposition leaders boycotted Prime Minister Modi’s speech in parliament is misleading and inaccurate. While some lawmakers initially walked out of the session, they did so before Modi spoke and returned later to hear his address, explicitly distancing the walkout from any protest against him.

Verdict: False — opposition MPs did not boycott PM Modi in the Knesset.