An Indian conglomerate has reportedly supplied Hermes 900 drones to Israel, which are being used in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to a recent report. The sale of over 20 Hermes 900 medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAVs was disclosed by Neelam Mathews for Shephard Media on February 2, although it has not been officially acknowledged by either Tel Aviv or New Delhi.
In 2018, Israel’s Elbit Systems established a joint venture with the Adani group, holding a 49% share, and launched a $15 million facility in Hyderabad to manufacture UAVs outside of Israel for the first time. The Wire, upon reaching out to Israel’s Elbit Systems, received confirmation that Adani is part of their UAS supply chain.
Haaretz reported that the Hermes 900 has been the flagship drone for Elbit Systems, operational within the Israeli Air Force since 2015 and participating in recent conflicts.
Critics in India have raised concerns over the government’s stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict. Despite initially expressing solidarity with Israel, India later voted in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza after the conflict escalated. The involvement of an Indian conglomerate in supplying drones used in densely populated areas of Gaza has drawn further criticism.
Shir Hever from the Palestinian BDS National Committee condemned India’s alliance with Israel, urging the country to align with international law and cease complicity with the conflict. He cited actions taken by other countries, such as Japan and the Netherlands, in response to concerns over violations of international law.
Additionally, European Union foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell recently called for a reduction in arms supplies to Israel due to civilian casualties in Gaza.
Adani, a prominent figure in India’s business landscape, has faced allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. His close ties to Prime Minister Modi’s government have also come under scrutiny in light of these developments.
