An Indian writer and activist, Arundhati Roy, has asked Indian government to halt sale and export of arms and ammunition to Israel or “forever be linked to the genocide in Gaza”.
Roy’s comments in chart with Middle East Eye (MEE), on Friday, come as civil society grow more weary of India’s complicity in Israel’s war on Gaza.
The war has already claimed around 40,000 Palestinian lives.
It also injured tens of thousands of others and left the besieged enclave in complete ruin.
Several prominent Indian figures, including Roy, former judges and bureaucrats, this week sent a letter to India’s defence ministry.
They call for immediate halt to the issuing of permits to export arms, drones and other explosives to Israel.
In the letter, two dozen signatories said continuation of weapons exports to Israel would amount to breach of international law.
This is base on the preliminary findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to Article III of the Genocide Convention, state complicity in genocide is a punishable offence.
The letter comes just over a month after reports surfaced of several arms transfers from India to Israel.
Prominent figures like advocate Prashant Bhushan, senior advocate Mihir Desai and activist Harsh Mander among others, signed the letter.
This is even after the ICJ found it is plausible that Israel has committed crimes that violate the Genocide convention.
Organisers behind the letter said they believe, Indian government have granted licences for export of military equipment to Israel to at least three companies.
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The letter added that the companies obtained the licences, either from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) or the Department of Defence Production (DDP).
DGFT or DDP authorise the export of arms and munitions for “military use and dual use purposes”.
“The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has clearly ruled that Israel is in violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“It further ruled that Israel is in illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.
“In light of these rulings, any supply of military materials to Israel would amount to a violation of India’s obligations.
“This is so under international humanitarian law,” the letter dated 30 July, said.
In June, several UN experts warned that the transfer of weapons and ammunition to Israel may constitute serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian laws.
UN called for an immediate halt to arms transfers, warning of state complicity in international crimes, possibly including genocide.
“Various international laws and treaties bound India, not to supply military weapons to States guilty of war crimes.
“This is because such State could use the weapons in serious violations of international humanitarian law,” the letter added.
“India, therefore, cannot export any military equipment or weapons to Israel.
“This is especially, when there is a serious risk that these weapons might be used to commit war crimes.” (Middle East Eye)
