Full Breakdown
India’s Arms Exports to Israel Under Scrutiny for Gaza Conflict
7/30/2026, 9:58:02 PM
Core Event: Scale of Shipments Since Oct 2023
Amnesty International’s investigation documents 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, parts and components sent from India to Israel beginning on October 7 2023. The shipments include at least 390,516 small-arms components, 564,970 explosive-ordnance parts such as drone warheads and artillery shell casings, and 298 military-vehicle components destined for Israeli firms that supply the Israeli armed forces. The data cover the period up to November 30 2025.
Background & Context: Indo-Israeli Defence Partnership
India and Israel have cultivated a deep defence relationship for decades. Between 2020 and 2025, India accounted for roughly 29 % of Israel’s defence imports, while Israel supplied about 15 % of India’s arms imports, according to SIPRI data. On November 4 2025, the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to expand defence cooperation, emphasizing joint industrial projects under India’s “Make in India” initiative. Joint ventures such as PLR Systems (with Israel Weapon Industries) and Alpha Elsec Defence & Aerospace Systems (with Elbit Systems) illustrate the shift toward co-manufacturing of drones, ammunition and missile components.
Data & Statistics
- 2,596 shipments (Oct 2023 – Nov 2025) identified under HS codes 93+ (arms and ammunition) and 8710+ (armoured fighting vehicles).
- 390,516 small-arms parts.
- 564,970 explosive-ordnance components, including 155 mm artillery shells and loitering-munition warheads.
- 298 vehicle parts for armoured platforms.
Both state-owned enterprises (Munitions India Ltd, Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd, India Optel Ltd) and private firms (Premier Explosives Ltd, Kalyani Strategic Systems, Indo-MIM) contributed to the exports.
Official Statements & Responses
Amnesty calls on India to immediately cease all transfers of arms and related technology to Israel, stating that “by knowingly allowing the transfer of arms to Israel, India stands in clear violation of its duty to prevent genocide under the Genocide Convention and its obligation to ensure respect for the Geneva Conventions.”
In June and July 2026, Amnesty wrote to the Indian government and nine identified companies outlining its findings; no response had been received at the time of reporting. India has abstained from the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) vote in April 2013 and has not signed or acceded to the treaty, a point highlighted by Amnesty as a structural shortfall in export controls.
Why It Matters
The shipments occur amid an ongoing conflict that Amnesty and other human-rights bodies describe as a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. International humanitarian-law experts note that states are prohibited from exporting weapons when there is a “clear risk” the items will be used to commit violations. Amnesty contends that India’s export framework lacks explicit human-rights due-diligence requirements, raising the prospect of complicity in alleged war crimes. The report urges India to align its export regulations with the Genocide Convention, the Geneva Conventions, and the ATT.
Timeline
- October 7 2023 – First documented shipment after the start of Israel’s Gaza offensive.
- November 30 2025 – End of the period covered by the Amnesty data set.
- November 4 2025 – India and Israel sign MoU on defence cooperation.
- July 2026 – Amnesty International releases its 42-page report detailing the export network.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Amnesty’s methodology excluded components that could plausibly serve civilian purposes, meaning the total volume of Indian-origin material moving toward Israel may be larger. The investigation notes a lack of transparency in India’s export licensing and reporting processes, and the Indian government has not publicly addressed the allegations or provided data to verify or refute the findings.
