Israel has urged India to designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar asserting that the group maintains links with other radical outfits, including Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.Addressing a group what he described as “distinguished Hindi leaders from around the world”, Sa’ar underscored the “great importance” Israel attaches to its relationship with India, even as he pressed for closer alignment on counter-terrorism.“I stressed the importance of Hamas being designated as a terror organisation by India,” he said, arguing that the group is part of a wider network of “radical Islamist terror organisations” with transnational linkages.The Israeli minister framed the ongoing conflict as part of a broader and prolonged campaign against extremism, stating that Israel had been “forced to fight” for over two-and-a-half years against forces whose stated objective is the elimination of the Jewish state.Claiming that Israel has established an upper hand across multiple fronts, Sa’ar said the campaign had significantly weakened what he termed the “terror octopus of radical Islam”, which he alleged is led by the Iranian regime. He added that the consequences of this confrontation would extend beyond West Asia and shape global security dynamics.The remarks come at a time when India has maintained a calibrated position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, condemning terrorism while also reiterating support for a two-state solution.New Delhi has not officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation, though it has consistently called for the release of hostages and cessation of violence.Sa’ar’s outreach to Indian stakeholders reflects Israel’s broader diplomatic push to build international consensus against Hamas, particularly among key strategic partners such as India.