Amid reports of India exporting weapons to Israel for its ongoing war in Gaza, despite India’s declared stand against the war, a former Israeli ambassador to India claimed that India may be supplying weapons to Israel as a gesture of gratitude for its assistance during the Kargil War against Pakistan in 1999, The Independent reported.
Daniel Carmon, who served as Israel’s ambassador to India from 2014 to 2018, suggested that India could be repaying Israel for its military support during a critical time. This speculation arises amid reports of India providing drones and munitions to Israel, although Indian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied these claims.
The Kargil War, a brief but intense conflict between India and Pakistan in the high-altitude region of Jammu and Kashmir, saw Israel supplying India with essential military equipment, including precision-guided munitions and surveillance drones. Carmon noted that India has not forgotten Israel's support during this period and might now be reciprocating.
In recent developments, Spain refused to allow ships carrying arms from India to Israel to dock at its ports, citing a commitment to not contribute to the ongoing war.
Earlier this year, Indian media reported that India had supplied Israel with advanced Hermes 900 drones manufactured in Hyderabad. These drones, initially produced to supply the Indian military, were reportedly converted for use by the Israeli Defence Forces due to depleted Israeli stockpiles.
While India has stopped short of directly criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza, the Modi administration has called for a ceasefire and expressed support for a two-state solution. This diplomatic stance contrasts with the accusations of India’s military support for Israel, which have sparked protests domestically.
The Indian public is increasingly concerned about backing a military campaign that has resulted in the deaths of over 37,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, as reported by the health ministry in Gaza.
The conflict in Gaza escalated following an attack by Hamas on October 7, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in over 250 captives being taken. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched an extensive military operation against Hamas, intensifying the ongoing violence in the region.
Aside from alleged military support, India has been transparent about other forms of assistance to Israel. The Modi government has been actively recruiting and dispatching thousands of workers to Israel to support its economy, following a ban on tens of thousands of Palestinian workers by the Netanyahu administration. This move indicates a deepening of the longstanding ties between India and Israel, particularly under Modi's leadership.