– Zaina Aman
Amidst Israel facing allegations of genocide at the International Court of Justice over its mindless bombardment on Gaza, a Hyderabad-based venture, majority-owned by the Adani Group, has produced and sent over 20 military drones to the Israeli military. These drones, akin to the ones delivered by Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems India Ltd, are heavily utilized in the Israeli Defence Forces’ operations in Gaza, contributing to the reported casualties of over 28,000 Palestinians.
The transaction involving the sale of over 20 Hermes 900 medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs to Israel, initially disclosed by Neelam Mathews on February 2 through the respected defense-focused platform Shephard Media, is yet to be officially acknowledged by either Tel Aviv or New Delhi. However, insiders at Adani, speaking anonymously to The Wire last week due to lack of authorization to engage with the media, affirmed that the export had indeed occurred.
Amidst the Modi government’s call for an immediate cease-fire, revelations of an Indian conglomerate’s involvement in supplying drones to the IDF for operations in densely populated Gaza urban areas seem contradictory. This news surfaces alongside reports from the Hague Court of Appeals in the Netherlands, ordering the Dutch government to halt the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, citing concerns of potential breaches of international law, as per the Associated Press.
During 2018, Elbit Systems of Israel established a partnership with Adani Defence and Aerospace, holding a 49% stake, and inaugurated a $15-million facility in Hyderabad.
According to information from an undisclosed source, The Hindu reported in November 2023 about the delivery schedule for Hermes 900 UAVs. The source mentioned, “Certain equipment has been sourced from Israel, and it has already been received. Thus, there is no disruption in that aspect.”
In the wake of the October 7 attack, India initially expressed unwavering solidarity with Israel but has since nuanced its position. Notably, New Delhi abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution advocating for a humanitarian pause in October 2023, yet two months later, it voted in favor of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at the NAM summit in Uganda, recently underscored India’s stance, emphasizing the need for a sustainable solution that prioritizes immediate relief for the most affected individuals, while firmly condemning terrorism. He reiterated India’s steadfast support for a two-state solution and emphasized the imperative of containing the conflict within the region, without allowing it to escalate further.
