Indian Garment Company Cuts Business Relations with Israel After Explosion at Gaza Hospital

Israeli police illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Israel Police)

JAKARTA - An Indian garment company that supplies uniforms for the Israeli police has cut off business ties with the country in protest after the explosion that occurred at the Gaza hospital and killed hundreds of people.

Maryan Apparel Private Limited, which has offices in Kannur, Kerala State, has been in business with the Israeli police since 2015. They make 100,000 uniforms, consisting of shirts and trousers, every year.

The decision was taken on Wednesday, a day after Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in central Gaza City, which accommodates thousands of people forced to flee by Israel, was rocked by an explosion on Tuesday night.

This prompted the company to reconsider its relationship with the Israeli police, as the company "does not support attacks on civilians".

"The attacks on hospitals really disturb us. Children, women, the general public are dying," explained company director Thomas Olickal to The National News as quoted on October 20.

"They banned food, electricity, and hospital treatment. No one can accept this. It doesn't matter whether the armies of both sides are fighting, but, but killing ordinary people is unacceptable. This is a moral decision," he continued.

However, he said the company would fulfill its commitments based on previous business agreements. However, new orders would not be accepted "until there is peace".

"We will let them know," Olickal added.

Olickal further said that his company had received an additional order for 50,000 pieces of uniform after the Hamas militant attack on October 7.

"They told us that they needed additional supplies of 50,000 pieces. However, looking at the current situation, they are killing innocent people in Gaza, we decided not to make uniforms," ​​said the 65-year-old businessman.

It is known that the company's head office is in Mumbai. Meanwhile, a uniform manufacturing unit has been functioning in Kannur since 2008.

The company specializes in making uniforms from fire-resistant fabric for workers in oil refineries as well as hospitals.

In addition to the Israeli police, the company also makes uniforms for the Kuwait National Guard and Fire Service, Qatar Air Force, Saudi Arabia's Aramco, and the Philippines.

"We make around 250,000 pieces of uniform every month. Meanwhile, Israel orders around 100,000 pieces every year. The amount is only 2 to 3 percent of the total business. That will not affect us," concluded Olickal.

As of October 19, the death toll on the Israeli side was around 1,400 people, and 4,500 others were injured according to the IDF. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said 3,785 people were killed and 12,000 injured. That includes more than 1,500 children, 1,000 women, and 120 elderly people