India’s arms sale to Israel risks complicity in Gaza genocide, Amnesty says

India's ongoing arms sales to Israel have drawn sharp criticism from Amnesty International, which alleges that New Delhi risks complicity in the alleged genocide in Gaza. In a detailed report released recently, the London-based human rights organization accused India of maintaining a close and lucrative relationship with the Israeli defense industry, contributing significantly to the supply chain supporting Israel's military operations in the region. The report, titled The Supply of Weapons and Ammunition to Israel, analyzed 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, parts, and components sent from India to Israel since October 7, 2023, the day Israel launched its large-scale military operation in Gaza. According to Amnesty International, these shipments included at least 390,516 small arms parts for military-grade weapons, 564,970 parts related to explosive ordnance, such as drone warheads and artillery shell casings, and 298 components of military vehicles intended for Israeli military suppliers. Amnesty International investigators emphasized that their analysis focused exclusively on shipments likely to be used for military purposes, systematically excluding those potentially meant for civilian applications. They relied on trade data to trace the flow of weapons, ammunition, parts, and components to Israeli companies known to supply the Israeli military. These items were categorized using internationally recognized Harmonized System (HS) codes 93+ and 8710+, which classify military equipment and components. Earlier this year, Al Jazeera obtained 91 Indian customs export documents detailing arms-related shipments to Israel in 2024, classified under HS code 93069000, which corresponds to "bombs, grenades," according to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The documents revealed that Indian firms exported weapon components to prominent Israeli arms manufacturers, including Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, IMI Systems Limited, and MCT Materials. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures in 2024, urging Israel to take steps to prevent genocide in Gaza. Since then, numerous human rights organizations and independent UN experts have labeled Israel's actions in Gaza as constituting a genocide. Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general, stated that the report highlights India’s continued support for the Israeli military and defense sector, despite the widespread global coverage of the alleged genocide in Gaza. Callamard noted that India not only fails to regulate arms exports to Israel by private companies in accordance with international law and standards but has also strengthened its defense partnership with Israel. Historically, India and Israel have maintained robust ties in defense and security matters. Over the past few years, India has been Israel’s largest defense purchaser, accounting for 29 percent of total sales between 2020 and 2025, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). During the same period, Israel ranked third among the countries receiving arms from India, with 15 percent of the imports coming from Israel, following Russia (40 percent) and France (29 percent). India and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defense cooperation aimed at strengthening military collaboration. This agreement underscores the depth of their strategic alliance, which includes joint research and development projects, co-production of defense systems, and training programs. The report by Amnesty International comes amid growing international scrutiny of India’s role in supplying arms to Israel. Human rights groups and legal experts argue that India’s failure to impose stricter controls on arms exports could expose it to accusations of complicity in potential violations of international humanitarian law. As the conflict in Gaza continues, the focus will remain on whether India will adjust its defense policies in response to mounting pressure from global civil society and legal institutions.