IIT Bombay is encouraging its students to take up research opportunities at Israeli universities, prompting opposition from a students' body that has flagged the charges of genocide by Israel in Gaza and its universities' purported links to State policies.

On September 8, the IIT’s general secretary academic affairs (GSAA) circulated through the common mailing list an email that the office of the institute's dean of international relations had received from Bar-Ilan International School, Israel.

"Greetings from Bar-Ilan International School, Israel! We cordially invite you and your students to an exclusive webinar (free registration) tailored particularly for students keen on discovering research programs in Chemistry at Bar-Ilan University. Please share this invite with interested students," said the email, to which was attached a Bar-Ilan University brochure.

The students received another email on September 25 from the office of the dean of international relations.

“Dear Faculty members/PhD-students, WARM greetings from the Office of International Relations! We are pleased to inform you that the Azrieli International Postdoctoral Fellowship for the 2025-26 academic year is open for applications. They are inviting the researchers in any academic discipline at eligible institutions in Israel,” said the email from Piyush Kumar, junior administrative assistant, international relations office.

The Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle, a students’ group, wrote an email to the GSAA opposing the IIT’s move in the light of the genocide charges brought against Israel by international bodies such as the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court.

“Israel universities, many of which have been closely linked to state policies and actions in the occupied Palestinian territories, stand in direct opposition to values of justice, equality, and human dignity that we hold dear,” the email said.

It urged the institute to desist from any collaboration or exchange programmes with Israeli universities.

“This is not only a moral obligation but also a meaningful act of support for those facing oppression. Our commitment to academic freedom and human rights must extend beyond our own borders,” the email said.

The students’ body has also taken to social media to put pressure on the institute.

This newspaper sent an email to IIT Bombay director Shireesh B. Kedare seeking the tech school’s perspective on the controversy.

“These are international matters and we will go by the guidelines from the ministry,” he wrote back.

On September 22, over 1,600 teachers and students opposed the India-Israel Business Summit that was to be hosted by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

They wrote an open online letter to the IISc director citing the killing of innocent people in Gaza and expressing concern about the programme, which was to discuss bilateral trade and investments, defence and cybersecurity, start-ups and venture capital, and sustainable energy. The event took place as scheduled.

India has joined other countries in calling for a ceasefire and restraint in West Asia but the Israel-Hamas war has not affected the India-Israel relationship.

Over 4,800 Indian workers have been deployed in Israel following a request from Tel Aviv (to replace Palestinian workers in certain sectors), the government told Parliament in July.