Al Jazeera Investigation Uncovers Indian Weapons Shipment to Israel During Gaza War
In a startling revelation, an investigative report by Qatar-based Al Jazeera, published on 26 June 2024, has exposed that a cargo vessel loaded with lethal weapons departed from Chennai, India, on 2 May 2024, destined for Israel’s port of Ashdod, located approximately 30 km from the Gaza Strip. This shipment occurred while Gaza was under severe attack by Israeli forces, amid allegations of mass-scale genocide against Palestinians. The documents obtained strongly suggest that Israel is receiving Indian weapons as it wages war in Gaza, raising significant ethical and diplomatic concerns.
Protests and Political Pressure Halt Ship in European Waters
According to the report, on 15 May, the cargo vessel Borkum stopped off the Spanish coast near Cartagena. At the port, protesters waved Palestinian flags and demanded authorities inspect the ship, suspecting it carried weapons bound for Israel. It remains unclear how these protesters learned that the Borkum was loaded with Indian-supplied weapons destined for use against Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, nine leftist members of the European Parliament sent a letter to Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, urging the ship be prevented from docking. The letter stated, "Allowing a ship loaded with weapons destined for Israel is to allow the transit of arms to a country currently under investigation for genocide against the Palestinian people." Before the Spanish government could act, the Borkum cancelled its planned stopover and proceeded to the Slovenian port of Koper.
Marine Tracking and Cargo Details Reveal Covert Route
Marine tracking data shows the Borkum departed Chennai and circumnavigated Africa to avoid the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking vessels in retaliation for Israel’s war. Documentation obtained unofficially by the Solidarity Network Against the Palestinian Occupation (RESCOP) indicates the Borkum contained 20 tonnes of rocket engines, 12.5 tonnes of rockets with explosive charges, 1,500 kg of explosive substances, and 740 kg of charges and propellants for cannons. A confidentiality clause in the documents mandated that employees and consultants "under no circumstances" mention the name of IMI Systems or Israel. IMI Systems, a defence firm acquired by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer, in 2018, is implicated in this shipment.
Second Ship Denied Entry and Growing Evidence of Indian-Israeli Collaboration
A second cargo ship, the Marianne Danica, which departed from India’s port of Chennai en route to Israel’s port of Haifa with 27 tonnes of explosives, was denied entry to the port of Cartagena on 21 May. Spanish newspaper El País reported this incident, and European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares confirmed the denial was due to the military cargo bound for Israel. These events add to mounting evidence that weapon parts from India, a country historically advocating dialogue over military action, are quietly reaching Israel during the Gaza war. Zain Hussain, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), told Al Jazeera, "Collaboration between India and Israel has been happening for quite a few years now, therefore it’s not unfeasible that we may see some made-in-India components being used by Israel in its war on Gaza."
Video Evidence and Corporate Admissions Confirm Indian Involvement
On 6 June, following Israel’s bombing of a United Nations shelter at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, the Quds News Network released a video showing missile remains dropped by Israeli warplanes with a label clearly reading: "Made in India." Hussain noted this video requires further investigation but highlighted that India-Israel collaboration often revolves around missile production, particularly the Barak surface-to-air missile. According to SIPRI, Indian company Premier Explosives Limited manufactures solid propellants for MRSAM and LRSAM missiles, which are Indian designations for Barak missiles of Israeli design. The company’s executive director, T. Chowdary, admitted during a conference call on 31 March to exporting to Israel amid the Gaza war, stating, "We have received the pending revenue from the Israel export order, and this has shown an exponential jump in the revenue of the quarter. We are happy to announce that we have the highest-ever quarterly revenue." Chowdary also presented the company as the only Indian firm specializing in exporting fully assembled rocket motors and mentioned starting exports of RDX and HMX explosives used in military weapons.
Broader Defense Partnerships and Drone Production
India’s collaboration with Israel extends beyond rocket propellants. In December 2018, Adani Defence & Aerospace, part of Adani Enterprises Ltd, and Israel’s Elbit Systems inaugurated the Adani Elbit Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Complex (UAV) in Hyderabad, India, for producing Hermes drones. Hussain explained, "The production of Hermes drones is as important for India as it is for Israel. For Israel, it means they have a factory outside of the country. For India, it’s about technology transfer, so that it can also produce drones based on the Israeli model." The use of Hermes drones has been documented by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in previous Gaza conflicts, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah claimed to have shot down an armed Hermes 900 drone in its airspace. Al Jazeera sought comments from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence on 17 and 21 June 2024 but received no response, underscoring the sensitivity of these revelations.
