After years of legal proceedings in the United States, the U.S. this week extradited Tahawwur Rana, a 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, to India. Rana is accused of being the mastermind behind the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai. The assault, which lasted three days and shocked the world, left more than 160 people dead—including Chabad emissary Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka. Their son, Moishe, then only two years old, was miraculously rescued by his nanny, Sandra Samuel.
“They Insisted on Justice” – Israeli Envoy Praises India
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, welcomed Rana’s extradition and said in a special video message: “I want to commend the Indian government for its determination in bringing terrorists to justice. We welcome this step, which seeks to hold accountable those responsible for the horrific attacks that claimed many lives, including Israeli citizens.”
Here’s a message from Amb @ReuvenAzar, thanking Govt of India for its efforts in bringing perpetrator of 26/11 Mumbai attacks to justice.
We welcome this step towards accountability for the horrific attacks that claimed many lives, including Israelis. pic.twitter.com/bbb4SrETs6
— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) April 10, 2025
Rana, who was extradited on April 8, was handed over to India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). He is expected to face trial on serious charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Indian state, and document forgery. Despite the extradition, Mumbai Police had not yet received official notification of his transfer to the city.
A Terror Attack That Shook India—and Israel
In India, the Mumbai attacks have often been compared to the September 11 attacks. Ten Pakistani terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba organization infiltrated the city by sea, targeting the central train station, luxury hotels, restaurants—and the local Chabad House. For three days, they fired indiscriminately and threw grenades at civilians.
India accused Pakistan of direct responsibility for the attack, though Pakistani officials denied any involvement. One of the attackers, Ajmal Kasab, was captured alive and sentenced to death in 2012. He remained the only surviving terrorist from the assault.
The Child Who Survived—and Spoke to the World
Moshe Holtzberg, who miraculously survived the massacre, addressed the UN Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022, saying: “It is very important that you are gathering here today to find ways to fight terrorism—so that no one will have to go through what I went through.”
