Israel lists Lashkar-e-Taiba as a terror organisation 'despite not being requested by Indian govt'

Israel, that has been in war with Hamas, Tuesday listed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) as terror organisation to symbolise the marking of 15th year of commemoration of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

“To symbolise 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 Organisation,” Israeli embassy in India said in a statement.

Israel said listing has been done by them without any request from India.

“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 organisations,” the Israeli embassy said.

Why has Israel listed LeT as a terror organisation?

Israel elaborated its decision to list LeT as a terror group, saying, while it “only lists terror organisations who are actively operating against it from within or around its borders, or in a similar manner to India – those globally recognised by UNSC (United Nations Security Council) or the US state department; the Israeli ministries of defense and foreign affairs, have jointly worked in the last few months towards an expediated and extraordinary listing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba organisation on this date, to highlight the importance of a Unified Global Front in combating terrorism.”

“Lashkar-e-Taiba is a deadly and reprehensible terror organisation, 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,” the Israeli embassy 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 Israeli embassy added.

A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed and another 238 were injured in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid a siege for over 60 hours, attacking and killing people at iconic and prominent locations in the financial capital of India, Mumbai.

The attackers also targeted the Chabad House, a Jewish community center in Mumbai.

The move to designate LeT as a terror organisation comes amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Palestinian terror organisation – Hamas.

The development also comes at a time when Israel has asked India to designate Hamas as a terrorist entity.

In October, Israeli ambassador to New Delhi Naor Gilon said stressed on the need for proscribing Hamas as a terrorist organisation following the attacks on Israeli cities on October 7 in which thousands of Hamas terrorists entered towns in Israel and killed over 1,400 people.

“The important countries for us are with us. These are the democracies of the world. Having said that…I think it is also time to officially designate Hamas in India as a terror organisation,” Gilon had said.

With inputs from agencies