2 August 2024: Twenty-five distinguished Indian figures, including former Supreme Court judges, economists, activists, and poets, have written to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, calling for an immediate halt to the licensing process that allows exporters to send military arms and ammunition to Israel, reported the Indian Express.
This plea comes in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israeli actions have been described as genocidal following an attack by Hamas last October, which led to the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.
In their letter, the signatories emphasize India’s reported arms exports to Israel during the Gaza conflict, arguing that such actions contravene India’s obligations under international law and the Indian Constitution, specifically Articles 21 and 51(c).
“We are writing to you as concerned citizens, alarmed at the continued grant of export licences and permissions to various Indian companies, for the supply of military arms and munitions to Israel, since the war on Gaza began,” the letter states.
The letter references a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which found Israel in violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention and occupying Palestinian territory illegally. The signatories argue that continuing to supply military materials to Israel would constitute a breach of international humanitarian law and India’s constitutional mandates.
The plea also highlights that India’s stance on the conflict has been inconsistent, pointing out that despite voting for a UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in December 2023, India abstained from a vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire and an arms embargo on Israel in April 2024. This, they argue, raises serious questions about India’s possible complicity in the ongoing conflict.
The letter concludes by demanding the immediate suspension of all military material exports to Israel and a review and cancellation of existing export licences.
The signatories of this appeal include former Supreme Court judges Ruma Pal, B. Sudarshan Reddy, and S.N. Variava; former Madras High Court judge K. Chandru; former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah; retired IFS officers Deb Mukherji and Ashok Sharma; retired IAS officers Meena Gupta and EAS Sarma; former Lalit Kala Akademi chairperson Ashok Vajpeyi; author Arundhati Roy; musician T.M. Krishna; CPIM leader Brinda Karat; psephologist Yogendra Yadav; senior advocate Chander Uday Singh; advocates Prashant Bhushan, R. Vaigai, and Mihir Desai; activists Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Anjali Bhardwaj, Kavita Srivastava, and Vijayan MJ; and development economist Jean Dreze.
