As conflict in the Middle East intensifies, India’s relationship with Israel deepens

Indian companies, including state-owned enterprises, have supplied hundreds of thousands of weapons components to Israeli military suppliers since October 2023, according to an Amnesty International investigation released this week. The shipments—including small arms parts, explosive ordnance components, and military vehicle parts—mark a shift in India's relationship with Israel from primarily purchasing weapons to actively participating in Israel's defense production. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has deepened strategic and defense ties with Israel even as the country faces international criticism over its military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians.

The development represents a departure from India's historical support for Palestinian causes and its leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement. Many Western nations, including Britain, have restricted or banned arms supplies to Israel, citing concerns about potential violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. A UN commission concluded in September that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, while the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes charges.