Indian corporations and state-owned enterprises are significantly contributing to Israel’s wartime economy in Gaza through various investments and collaborations, according to a recent report from the Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA).
The report, titled “Profit and Genocide: Indian Investments in Israel,” indicates that Indian companies are linked to Israel’s defense production, surveillance technologies, agricultural ventures, and infrastructure projects that are crucial to Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its settlement activities in the West Bank and Golan Heights.
Earlier this month, independent rights investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council stated that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, emphasizing a clear intent to eliminate Palestinians, as defined by the Genocide Convention. They noted that the responsibility to prevent and punish genocide falls upon all States Parties to the Convention and is also applicable under customary international law.
The CFA report highlights a growing trade and investment relationship between India and Israel, noting that India’s government signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty with Israel recently, amid increasing international condemnation regarding civilian casualties in Gaza.
From 2016 to 2021, India accounted for 40-45% of Israel’s total arms exports, establishing itself as one of Israel’s largest defense customers. Among the examples cited in the report is Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd., a Hyderabad-based joint venture manufacturing Hermes 900 drones, which have been extensively utilized in Gaza for surveillance and targeted strikes.
The $1.18 billion acquisition of Haifa port by Adani Ports in 2022 is another notable connection, as Haifa is Israel’s busiest commercial port and a base for the Israeli Navy’s submarine fleet, aiding military logistics.
The report also scrutinizes major Indian tech firms, including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, and Reliance Jio, for their involvement in Israeli digital infrastructure projects. TCS has been associated with Project Nimbus, a cloud initiative involving Amazon and Microsoft, which faces international criticism for facilitating mass surveillance and predictive policing of Palestinians.
“These partnerships go beyond ordinary commerce,” the report claims. “They actively contribute to systems of surveillance, repression, and displacement.”
Indian agribusinesses are also implicated in supporting Israeli settlements, deemed illegal under international law. Jain Irrigation’s subsidiary, NaanDanJain, supplies water systems to settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights. In 2022, Jain merged part of its global irrigation operations with Rivulis, a company linked to Israel’s defense and prison sectors.
The report highlights India’s collaboration with Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, criticized for allegedly weaponizing water in Gaza by restricting supplies and denying civilians safe drinking water. In India, Mekorot has worked on water projects in states like Karnataka.
Additionally, in 2023, approximately 42,000 Indian construction and nursing workers were recruited to Israel after Palestinian work permits were suspended, a move criticized by labor advocates as it disrupts the Palestinian economy and contributes to their displacement while integrating Indian workers into Israel’s labor market.
CFA’s findings reveal a contradiction between India’s historical support for the Palestinian cause and its expanding economic and defense ties with Israel.
“As Israel’s attacks on Palestinian territories escalated toward genocide, it is essential to recognize the role of silent enablers,” stated Hajira Puthige, the report’s author. Despite increasing international condemnation of war crimes, cooperation between India and Israel has intensified, Puthige noted.
Joe Athialy, the CFA’s executive director, pointed to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has already resulted in over 65,000 deaths, including more than 20,000 children. He urged both the Indian government and corporations to cease their business dealings with Israel until the ongoing genocide is addressed.
India, historically a supporter of Palestinian self-determination, has strengthened its security, technology, and trade ties with Israel, becoming one of Tel Aviv’s key partners outside the Western bloc.
The CFA’s report concludes that Indian corporations are not merely passive actors but active participants in an economy sustained by conflict and occupation. It calls for both policymakers and businesses in India to realign their actions with principles of international law and humanitarian justice.
“To maintain credibility in the Global South, India’s strategic interests must not come at the expense of complicity in Israel’s settler-colonial regime,” the report emphasizes. It advocates for the integration of ethics and constitutional principles into India’s economic diplomacy to reaffirm its historical commitment to justice in international relations.
Tags: Indian corporations, state-owned enterprises, Gaza genocide, complicit actions, human rights violations
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