The Israeli army is expected to add Indian-made drones of the “Hermes 900” model to its growing fleet of these aircraft. Human rights activists and defense analysts say this move will further involve India in the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The delivery of these drones comes as Israeli airstrikes hit the city of Rafah, with the occupation forces preparing for a major assault on the densely populated urban area.
Defense analysts, as reported by a correspondent for the “Middle East Eye” website in New York, state that the drones have been a key asset for the Israeli army during its ongoing aggression on Gaza, being used for reconnaissance and attacks on Palestinian civilians and homes.
The British site mentioned that the Hermes 900 drones are capable of flying for over 30 hours, typically used in a variety of military operations including reconnaissance and airstrikes. They were first used in 2014 during the Israeli war on Gaza, resulting in the death of thousands of Palestinians and the injury of tens of thousands.
The Hermes 900, also known in Israel as “Hermes 900 Kochav” or the Star, has since become the gold standard in the category of medium to long-endurance drones. It is one of the four lethal or “killer” drones utilized by Israel.
Defense analyst Jerish Lingana from India told “Middle East Eye” that the Hermes 900 has a documented history of use in the region, with Israel consistently employing its various military assets for monitoring and targeted strikes within Gaza. Lingana added, “Unfortunately, these drones manufactured by Adani-Elbit are very likely to be deployed in Gaza.”
The correspondent noted that though neither country publicly acknowledged the transfer of Indian-made drones to Israel, a source at Adani confirmed to the Indian site “The Wire” that the drones were indeed exported to Israel.
Human rights activists and defense analysts argue that the drone deal highlights India’s increasing complicity in Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, shedding light on the flourishing economic and military relations between the two countries.
Shir Hever, the coordinator of the military embargo campaign at the Palestinian National Committee for Boycotting Israel, described India’s alignment with Israel during this period as “shameful,” given India’s long history under colonial rule.
Hever stated, “The Hermes 900 drones are used to bomb innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.”
Lingana concluded that the partnership in drones between India and Israel is likely to raise numerous legal and ethical dilemmas for India, especially as more information emerges about the events in Gaza. After the 2014 Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights found that around 37% of Palestinian casualties were caused by Israeli drones.
Lingana added, “When India supplies Israel with drones, it becomes indirectly linked to any operations carried out by those drones in Gaza, blurring the line between the supplier and the potential partner, even if India does not have direct control over how the drones are used.”
