Overview of the Report's Findings
Amnesty International has released a report indicating that India continues to provide arms to Israel, raising concerns about their potential use in actions that the rights group describes as an 'ongoing genocide against Palestinians' in the Gaza region. The organization, based in Britain, detailed how India has cultivated a significant and financially beneficial partnership with Israel's defense sector, becoming a crucial component in the supply chains supporting Israeli military operations.
The report, titled 'The Supply of Weapons and Ammunition to Israel,' analyzed 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, parts, and components dispatched from India to Israel since October 7, 2023. This period coincides with the commencement of a substantial Israeli military offensive in Gaza. According to Amnesty International's findings, Indian enterprises have supplied a minimum of 390,516 parts for small arms intended for military-grade weapons, 564,970 components for explosive ordnance – including warheads for drones and casings for artillery shells – and 298 parts for military vehicles to Israeli military contractors.
Methodology and Data Analysis
Amnesty International utilized shipment trade data to trace the flow of weapons, ammunition, and various components to Israeli companies that, in turn, supply them to the nation's armed forces. The rights group clarified that its researchers meticulously excluded shipments that could be intended for civilian applications. They focused on identifying India's exports of weapons and ammunition, along with associated parts and accessories, categorized under the internationally recognized Harmonized System (HS) codes 93+ and 8710+. This systematic approach aimed to ensure the data accurately reflected military-related transfers.
Earlier in the year, separate investigations by Al Jazeera also uncovered 91 Indian customs export documents detailing arms-related shipments to Israel in 2024. These documents were classified under code 93069000, which, according to India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry's customs book, pertains to 'bombs, grenades.' The records indicated that Indian firms were exporting weapon components to prominent Israeli arms manufacturers, including Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, IMI Systems Limited, and MCT Materials.
International Legal Context and Declarations
In 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures instructing Israel to implement actions to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Since this ruling, numerous human rights organizations and independent experts from the United Nations have characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as potentially constituting genocide. This legal and humanitarian context forms a crucial backdrop to Amnesty International's latest report.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, commented on the report, stating that it 'reveals India’s continuing support to the Israeli military and defence sector despite the genocide in Gaza, which has been broadcast worldwide on an almost daily basis for years.' Callamard further emphasized that 'India manufactures and supplies arms transferred to Israel through its ownership and control over key supplier companies.' She added, 'Not only has India failed to regulate arms exports to Israel by private companies in line with international law and standards, it has also deepened its defence partnership with Israel.'
Historical Defense Ties and Future Cooperation
Historically, India and Israel have maintained strong ties in the defense and security sectors. India has been a significant purchaser of Israeli defense equipment for many years, accounting for 29 percent of Israel's total defense sales between 2020 and 2025, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Conversely, Israel ranked third among countries supplying arms to India during the same period, providing 15 percent of India's imports, following Russia (40 percent) and France (29 percent).
The two nations solidified their defense cooperation with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 4, 2025. This agreement aimed to bolster military, industrial, and technological collaboration. During a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel, a joint statement acknowledged the substantial growth in defense cooperation, both in scope and scale, and outlined a future roadmap for continued partnership. Prime Minister Modi has often referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'dear friend,' even as the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli premier in late 2024 over alleged war crimes related to the conflict in Gaza.
