News - India Supreme Court does not allow restricting country’s arms exports to Israel

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition seeking to limit the country's arms sales and military aid to Israel amid the developments in the Gaza Strip. "The Supreme Court cannot interfere in the country's foreign policy. Indian companies exporting weapons to Israel will be held accountable for breach of contractual obligations if they stop the supply," said the statement posted on the official website of the high court. Only the government of India has the power and authority to implement the country's foreign policy. "In granting the plaintiffs' petition, the Supreme Court will have to pass judgments against Israel, which is an independent sovereign state and is not subject to the jurisdiction of Indian courts," added the decision of the Supreme Court of India. A number of Indian politicians and public figures submitted a petition demanding restrictions on arms supplies to Israel. The authors of the petition urged the Supreme Court to recommend that the Indian government revoke existing and not grant new licenses to domestic companies to export arms and military equipment to Israel. "That state is guilty of the genocide in the Gaza Strip, and therefore the export of Indian arms would be a violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," the authors of the petition noted. According to Indian media, India and Israel are developing their cooperation in advanced technologic and military equipment. New Delhi receives anti-terror equipment from Tel Aviv, including surveillance and cybersecurity systems, as well as technology for the production of missiles and other weapons, as part of a strategic partnership. India, in turn, supplies Israel with drones and artillery shells.