A GROUP of prominent Indian figures have written to Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh demanding a halt to the licensing process that allows exporters to send arms and ammunition to Israel. The group includes former Supreme Court and high court judges, economists, activists and writers including Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy.
“You are requested to review and cancel/suspend all existing licenses for the supply of military arms and ammunition by Indian companies to Israel,” the group said, as reported by Anadolu, Friday (2/8).
The group stressed that India should immediately suspend its cooperation in the transfer of military material to Israel. It further urged the Indian government to make every effort to ensure that weapons delivered to Israel are not used to contribute to acts of genocide or violations of international humanitarian law.
The group also demanded that the details of the export licenses, including the countries of export, be kept in the public domain as they are no longer available on the website. At least three companies in India engaged in manufacturing and exporting arms and ammunition have been granted licenses to
exporting weapons and military equipment to Israel, even during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and after the ruling of the International Court of Justice.
“India is bound by various international laws and treaties that require India not to supply military arms to countries found guilty of war crimes as any exports could be used for serious violations of international humanitarian law,” he said.
Earlier, the left-wing parties had also demanded that India cancel all licenses and export permits to various Indian companies for the supply of arms and military ammunition to Israel.
Although the government has not made any statement regarding the supply of arms to Israel, Al-Jazeera Media Group in an investigation claimed that New Delhi is supplying arms to the country.
In June, former Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said that India might supply arms to Israel as a token of gratitude for Israel’s help during the 1999 Kargil war between India and Pakistan. (Ant/Z-2)
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