India has been exporting weapons and military equipment to Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, according to leaked documents seen by Al Jazeera.
A cargo vessel, which stopped off the Spanish coast, reportedly contained over 30 tons of rockets and explosives destined for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
The ship, allegedly departing from southeast India, was en route to Ashdod, a port located approximately 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip.
The vessel circumnavigated Africa to avoid attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
The documents revealed strict confidentiality instructions, prohibiting any mention of Israel or Elbit Systems subsidiary IMI Systems.
The shipment of weapons to Israel during the Gaza conflict has sparked controversy, with concerns that the IDF might be using them in violation of international law.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 37,000 people in Gaza following Israel’s response to the October 7 Hamas resistance.
When the cargo vessel docked off the Spanish coast, protesters waved Palestinian flags and urged authorities to inspect the ship.
Leftist politicians in Spain requested President Pedro Sánchez to prevent the ship from docking, arguing that allowing the ship to dock would enable the transit of arms to Israel, a country currently under investigation for alleged genocide against Palestinians.
A separate report accused India of shipping advanced Hermes 900 drones and other weaponry to Israel.
Former Israeli ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, suggested that India’s decision to send weapons to Israel might be a gesture of “returning the favor” for Israel’s support during India’s 1999 war with Pakistan.
Marine tracking sites indicated that the German-operated ship Borkum, carrying explosives loaded in India, was en route to Israel’s port of Ashdod.
Spanish leftist politicians successfully prevented the ship from docking at Cartagena on May 15. Another ship, Marianne Danica, carrying 27 tons of explosives, was also denied entry to Cartagena on May 21.
Following Israel’s bombing of a United Nations shelter at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, a video released by Quds News Network showed remnants of a missile with a label indicating it was “Made in India.”
Zain Hussain from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) stated that the video required further investigation but noted significant collaboration between India and Israel on missile production.
Indian company Premier Explosives Limited confirmed exporting to Israel amid the Gaza conflict, highlighting a substantial increase in revenue from these exports.