India took a policy stand not to supply arms, shells to Israel: Defence sources

In the initial days of the Gaza offensive, Israel required artillery shells but India took a “policy decision” not to supply them, according to defence sources

In the initial days of the Gaza offensive, Israel required artillery shells but India took a “policy decision” not to supply them, according to defence sources, who also stated that India is “firmly neutral” between Russia and Ukraine and has taken a stand to “not supply kinetic equipment” to either of them.

“In the initial days of their Gaza offensive, they needed artillery shells, 155mm and 105mm; but we took a policy decision not to supply them. Israel itself is unable to honour its commitments. What they are supposed to supply, they are using it for themselves,” a defence source with knowledge of the matter said on condition of anonymity, while stressing that “there is very little that really goes from India.”

This also highlights India’s vulnerabilities due to its extreme dependency on defence imports. Deliveries of systems, spares, supplies and ammunition have suffered delays from Russia as well. “There are very little defence exports to Israel from India. It is India which is dependent on Israel for defence supplies, deliveries of some have been impacted due to their own requirements following the current situation,” the source stressed.

Some Israeli companies have joint ventures with Indian companies under which some parts and components are made or systems assembled in India which go back to the parent company.

“At the time of the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, in February 2022, there were not much supplies going from India, as at that time our defence industry wasn’t primed much, especially for ammunition,” the source stated.

“After the war began, there have been several inquiries from countries around them and aligned either with Russia or Ukraine who were looking to re-route stuff but the Defence Ministry, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has been clear that we will not get embroiled in the war,” the source stressed. “We have relations with both of them and need both of them,” another source in the know said.

Responding to queries on diversion of Indian defence exports to Ukraine, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed reports “speculative and misleading” and said there were no violations by India.