New Delhi, Delhi
Relations between India and Israel have strengthened significantly over the past few years. Political, economic, and strategic cooperation between the two countries has expanded. However, the history of these ties also includes several humanitarian episodes in which Indians risked their own safety to save Israeli lives. The Battle of Haifa during World War I and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks are two prominent examples of Indian courage and sacrifice.
The Battle of Haifa took place on September 23, 1918, during World War I. Indian soldiers played a crucial role in the battle against the forces of the Ottoman Empire. Lancer regiments from Indian princely states, particularly the Jodhpur, Mysore, and Hyderabad Lancers, played an important role in the campaign.
Indian cavalrymen of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade attacked Ottoman and German positions equipped with machine guns using lances, swords, and spears. The operation was led by Major Dalpat Singh, who was killed in action. He was posthumously awarded a military honour for his bravery.
The actions of the Indian soldiers helped in the capture of Haifa and Acre and disrupted important Ottoman supply lines. The Battle of Haifa was part of the wider Sinai and Palestine Campaign and occurred during the final phase of the Battle of Megiddo in World War I.
The Indian Army observes Haifa Day every year on September 23 to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the battle. The episode is remembered as a historic example of the courage and military capabilities of Indian soldiers.
Nearly 90 years later, another example of Indian courage emerged in Mumbai, when an Indian woman saved an Israeli child during a terrorist attack. On November 26, 2008, terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba launched a series of attacks across Mumbai. Chabad House, located in the Colaba area of South Mumbai, was among the targets.
At Chabad House, a two-year-old boy, Moshe Holtzberg, was being cared for by an Indian woman, Sandra Samuel. The terrorists killed Moshe’s parents, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg, along with four other people.
Amid gunfire and extreme danger during the attack, Sandra Samuel carried Moshe in her arms and managed to escape from Chabad House. By bringing the child to safety, she saved his life.
Sandra Samuel’s bravery was recognised by Israel, and she was subsequently granted Israeli citizenship. Chabad House was a popular destination for Jewish travellers from Israel and other parts of the world. Young Israelis who came to India after completing their military service also visited the centre.
The bravery of Indian soldiers during the Battle of Haifa and Sandra Samuel’s efforts to save Moshe during the Mumbai terror attacks belong to two very different periods of history. However, both episodes highlight important examples of courage, humanity, and compassion shown by Indians toward Israeli people.
