India shipped 2,596 arms to Israel: Report alleges complicity.
Amnesty alleged Indian authorities knew, or should have known, the transfers risked contributing to serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Key takeaways from the report
- Scope of trade: 2,596 identified shipments from India to Israel between October 2023 and November 2025 involving small arms, ammunition and military vehicle components.
- Estimated exports: At least 390,516 small-arms parts, 564,970 explosive ordnance parts and 298 military vehicle components supplied by Indian firms.
- State-owned suppliers: MIL, IOL and AWEIL allegedly exported artillery shells, infrared sensors and mortar launchers to Israeli companies.
- Private and joint ventures: PLR Systems, Indo-MIM, Kalyani Strategic and Alpha Elsec allegedly supplied machine-gun parts, automatic sears, artillery casings and loitering-munition warheads.
- Legal argument: Amnesty contends these public-sector companies qualify as “state” under Article 12 of the Constitution, making their exports effectively state transfers with potential international-law implications.
- End-use concerns: Components linked to systems such as Skystriker have been documented in Gaza, where allegations of serious violations of international law have been raised.
- Amnesty’s recommendation: The organisation calls for a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel covering direct and indirect transfers of weapons, components, technologies and related assistance.
Amnesty report alleges Indian arms exports to Israel continued during Gaza war
In a strongly worded report released on Thursday, July 30, Amnesty International accused Indian companies—including three fully government-owned defence firms—of continuing to supply weapons, ammunition and military components to Israel throughout the war in Gaza, warning that New Delhi risks complicity in violations of international law.
Titled “Made in India: The Supply of Weapons and Ammunition to Israel,” the investigation examined 2,596 shipments of small arms, ammunition and military vehicles sent from India to Israel between October 7, 2023, and November 30, 2025, describing what it says is a sustained integration between Indian manufacturers and Israel’s defence supply chains.
Amnesty’s researchers conservatively estimated that Indian firms supplied at least 390,516 small-arms parts for military-grade weapons, 564,970 parts of explosive ordnance such as drone warheads and artillery shell casings, and 298 military vehicle components.
The group said these figures likely understate the true scale of the trade because they exclude shipments that could have been intended for civilian or purely defensive use, as well as data that could not be independently verified.
According to Amnesty, exports continued long after public warnings about possible war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza, raising serious legal and ethical concerns.
Government-owned firms in the supply chain
The report identifies three defence public sector undertakings, all wholly owned by the Government of India, as direct suppliers: Munitions India Limited (MIL), India Optel Limited (IOL) and Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL).
According to Amnesty:
- MIL shipped one consignment of 1,000 155mm high-explosive artillery shells to Israeli firm Elbit Systems.
Amnesty argues that because these companies emerged from the former Ordnance Factory Board, are fully government-funded, and are headed by Cabinet-appointed officials with Ministry of Defence personnel on deputation.
On that basis, the organisation contends that their exports amount to arms transfers by the Indian state itself, potentially exposing the government to responsibility under international law.
Private companies and joint ventures
The report also names several private firms and joint ventures.
PLR Systems Private Limited, a joint venture between the Adani Group and Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), allegedly exported 10,571 parts for IWI Negev machine guns and 33,033 bolt carriers to IWI.
Bengaluru-based Indo-MIM Private Limited is said to have shipped more than 59,637 automatic sears to IWI, while Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited, part of the Bharat Forge Group, exported 9,600 metal casings for 155mm artillery rounds to a company owned by Elbit.
Alpha Elsec Defence and Aerospace Systems, a joint venture with Elbit, reportedly supplied 122 explosive warheads for the Skystriker loitering munition in December 2025. Amnesty noted that Skystriker debris has previously been documented in Gaza.
The report links these shipments to Israeli defence companies including Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael, which have faced allegations of involvement in serious violations of international law.
Why this matters for India
According to Amnesty, the central concern is not only the volume of exports but also their timing.
The organisation argues that shipments continued despite repeated warnings about the conduct of the war in Gaza and growing international calls for an arms embargo.
Its legal analysis suggests that transferring weapons that could be used to commit violations of international law may expose India to allegations of complicity, potentially affecting its international standing and prompting future legal scrutiny.
The findings also add to the domestic debate over India’s expanding defence-export ambitions, its strategic partnership with Israel, and the ethical and legal boundaries of military trade.
The report has increased pressure on the Indian government to explain its export-licensing decisions and clarify how it balances its strategic relationship with Israel with its stated commitment to international humanitarian law.