Amnesty International Claims Indian Companies Shipped 2,596 Arms Consignments to Israel Since October 2023

Amnesty International has claimed in a report released on Thursday that it identified more than 2,500 shipments of arms exported from India to Israel. According to the organization, at least 2,596 consignments of arms were exported from India to Israel by directly owned and controlled Indian companies after October 7, 2023. The report states that these exports could create a risk of being "complicit" in what Amnesty describes as the ongoing genocide in Gaza. It further alleges that India continued supplying arms to Israel despite what it calls a significant risk that the equipment could be used against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip. According to Amnesty International, the continued supply of weapons and ammunition reflects a close and commercially beneficial partnership between the Indian government and Israel's defence sector. The organization said India has become an important contributor to supply chains that support Israeli military operations. The report says its findings are based on shipment-level trade data between India and Israel. It states that Indian-made weapons, ammunition, components and defence parts were supplied to major Israeli defence companies that, according to Amnesty, provide equipment directly to the Israeli military. Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard said the organization's research highlights what it describes as India's continued support for the Israeli military and defence industry despite the conflict in Gaza, which has been under sustained international attention. The organization has urged the Government of India to immediately stop authorizing exports of arms, ammunition and military components to Israel. According to the report, records of 2,596 shipments made after October 7, 2023, indicate that Indian companies supplied at least 390,516 small-arms parts, 564,970 explosive ordnance components—including drone warheads, artillery shell casings and other items—and 298 military vehicle components to companies identified as direct suppliers to the Israeli military. Amnesty International also clarified that it excluded shipments that may have been intended for civilian use. The report further states that it did not include weapons, ammunition or components likely intended for missile defence systems, which are generally used to protect civilians from indiscriminate attacks. The report identifies the supplied military equipment as including machine gun components, 155 mm high-explosive artillery shells supplied to Elbit Systems, and explosive warheads designed for the SkyStriker loitering munition. Among the Indian companies named in the report are PLR Systems Private Limited, a joint venture between Adani Defence & Aerospace and Israel Weapon Industries; Indo MIM Private Limited; Kalyani Systems Private Limited, a subsidiary of Bharat Forge; Munitions India Limited; and Alpha Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems Private Limited, a joint venture between Alpha Design Technologies and Elbit Systems. The report states that the Israeli companies receiving the supplies included Elbit Systems, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., and Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Amnesty International also noted that India has neither signed nor acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).