Highlights:
- A 417-page writ petition filed with the Indian Supreme Court demands the revocation of military equipment export licenses to Israel
- Petitioners argue that continuing arms sales to Israel amid the Gaza conflict contravenes India’s legal obligations and humanitarian principles
Indian academics, retired diplomats, and civil servants have petitioned the Supreme Court to cancel licenses for exporting military equipment to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
According to a report in Arab News, the petition, filed on Wednesday and supplemented on Thursday, includes a comprehensive 417-page document detailing public and private sector companies involved in arms and ammunition manufacturing and export. These companies have been reportedly supplying weapons to Israel during the Gaza war.
The petitioners are calling for the Supreme Court to order the Indian government to revoke these licenses and halt the issuance of new ones. They argue that these sales breach India’s international legal obligations and constitutional provisions related to the right to life, equality, and the duty to uphold international agreements.
Vijayan Malluthara Joseph, a prominent policy analyst and one of the 11 petitioners, emphasized, “Arming a state engaged in potentially genocidal acts, as noted by the ICJ, is a clear violation of both India’s domestic and international laws.”
Indian arms sales to Israel gained significant attention in May when two cargo ships were prevented from docking at a Spanish port. Spain blocked these ships, citing the presence of ammunition, which sparked widespread controversy within Indian civil society.
In July, a group of lawyers and judges urged Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to revoke the licenses for companies supplying military equipment to Israel, especially in light of the ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice. Despite these calls, the Defense Ministry did not respond, and a spokesperson later stated that no arms deliveries to Israel had been authorized in recent months, though they did not address the cancellation of existing licenses.
Dev Mukherjee, a former ambassador to Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Nepal, who also signed the petition, stated, “We have previously asked the Defense Minister to end the sale of lethal weapons to Israel without receiving a response. Thus, we approached the Supreme Court to address this issue.”
The petitioners are hopeful that the Supreme Court will intervene, arguing that allowing arms sales to Israel constitutes an illegal act. They emphasize that their motivation is purely humanitarian, as highlighted by Ashok Kumar Sharma, a former Indian ambassador to Finland and Kazakhstan, who stated, “We should not be complicit in human rights violations. This petition reflects our commitment to humanitarian values.”
The legal team, led by lawyer Sheryl D’Souza, anticipates the petition will be heard in court on Monday. She added, “We have appealed to the judicial conscience of the court, as this case involves the lives of many innocent people.”
The Supreme Court’s decision on this petition will be pivotal in determining India’s stance on arms sales to Israel during the Gaza conflict. The outcome could set a significant precedent for the country’s adherence to international law and its commitment to humanitarian principles.
