New Delhi: Amnesty International has claimed that defence-related shipments from India to Israel continued after the outbreak of the Gaza war, raising concerns over the possible use of such supplies in Israel’s military operations in the region.
In a report released on Friday, the human rights organisation said it had identified 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, and related components exported from India to Israel since October 7, 2023. The report alleged that these supplies were provided by companies owned or controlled by the Indian government and private firms operating in the defence sector.
According to Amnesty, the shipments included firearm components, parts linked to explosive systems, and components used in military vehicles. The organisation said its findings were based on shipment-level trade records between India and Israel, which it used to track supplies reaching major Israeli defence companies.
The report claimed that Indian-made defence items were supplied to Israeli firms that provide equipment to the country’s armed forces. Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard said the findings indicated continued support for Israel’s defence sector despite allegations of serious violations during the Gaza conflict.
Amnesty has called on the Indian government to halt approvals for the export of weapons, ammunition and military components to Israel, citing concerns over the risk that such equipment could contribute to alleged violations of international humanitarian law.
Details of Alleged Supplies
The report stated that Indian companies supplied hundreds of thousands of military-related components, including 390,516 small arms parts, 564,970 components associated with explosive ordnance and 298 parts for military vehicles.
The organisation said it removed from its analysis shipments that could have been intended for civilian applications. It also excluded equipment believed to be connected with missile defence systems, which are often used for protective purposes.
Among the items identified in the report were machine gun components, 155mm high-explosive artillery shell-related supplies, and explosive warheads reportedly linked to loitering munitions such as the SkyStriker.
Companies Named in Report
Amnesty’s report identified several Indian defence manufacturers whose products, it said, were supplied to Israeli companies. These included PLR Systems Private Limited, a joint venture involving Adani Defence & Aerospace and Israel Weapon Industries; Indo MIM Private Limited, which produces firearm components; and Kalyani Systems Private Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge involved in artillery-related manufacturing.
The report also named state-owned Munitions India Limited and Alpha Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems Private Limited among companies involved in supplying defence components.
The Israeli companies identified as recipients of these supplies included Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd.
India Not Party to Arms Trade Treaty
Amnesty also noted that India has neither signed nor joined the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an international agreement that regulates the global trade of conventional weapons and seeks to prevent arms transfers that could contribute to serious human rights violations.
The report’s findings have added to the international debate over arms transfers during the Gaza conflict. The Indian government and the companies mentioned in the report have not issued a detailed response to Amnesty’s allegations at the time of publication.
