Rights group cites shipment data as report calls for greater scrutiny of defence exports
LONDON: Amnesty International has alleged that India continued supplying arms, ammunition and military components to Israel despite what the organisation described as the substantial risk that such equipment could be used in violations of international law during the conflict in Gaza.
In a report titled Made in India: The Supply of Weapons and Ammunition to Israel, released on June 30, Amnesty International said it examined shipment-level trade data between India and Israel covering the period since October 7, 2023.
According to the organisation, investigators analysed nearly 2,596 shipments and identified transfers of small-arms parts, explosive ordnance components and military vehicle parts from Indian manufacturers to Israeli defence companies that supply the Israeli military.
Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard said the findings indicate continued support for Israel’s defence sector despite the conflict in Gaza. She argued that, in light of provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice concerning a plausible risk of genocide, continued arms transfers could carry significant legal and humanitarian implications. Israel rejects allegations that it is committing genocide in Gaza.
Government-owned firms named in report
The report identified Munitions India, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd and India Optel Ltd among government-owned companies whose products allegedly entered Israeli defence supply chains.
Amnesty International said it wrote to the Indian government and nine companies in June and July 2026 outlining its findings. According to the organisation, no responses had been received before the report’s publication.
Defence ties remain longstanding
India and Israel have maintained close defence cooperation for decades, with Israel remaining one of India’s major military suppliers. The two countries also signed a defence cooperation memorandum of understanding in 2025 to strengthen industrial, technological and military collaboration.
The report also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has frequently described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “dear friend.”
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes. Israel disputes the allegations and rejects the ICC’s jurisdiction over the matter.
The Indian government had not publicly responded to Amnesty International’s findings at the time of the report’s release.:::
