As the Israel-Hamas war intensifes with more than 2000 people dead and many missing or taken hostage, global technology companies in Israel may shift their business operations to India it has been reported.

Other locations such as the Middle East or Eastern Europe are also being considered, if the war escalates further, a report by the Economic Times said.

According to the report that cited industry experts, the businesses may shift to locations with similar time zones and talent capabilities.

Reportedly, there are over 500 global companies in Israel including – Microsoft, Intel, and Google.

Indian firms such as Wipro and TCS also have operations in the country. They employ at least over 100,000 people.

While the high-tech industries have been the fastest growing sector in Israel, they are likely to face massive disruptions, as the Israeli military shifted to a war footing that may include a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip, reported Reuters citing investors and analysts.

According to the spokesperson for chipmaker Intel, Israel’s largest private employer and exporter, they are ‘closely monitoring the situation in Israel and taking steps to safeguard and support our workers.’

Notably, Intel’s shares fell 0.5 percent on Monday, two days after the Hamas militants in a surprise attack killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted an unknown number of others.

Israel-Hamas war enters day 6

The war between Israel and Hamas entered its sixth day on Thursday and is expected to escalate further. According to the latest reports, over 2,300 people from both sides have been killed so far, while thousands of people have been displaced.

In a late-night televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to seek and destroy all Hamas assets.

‘We saw boys and girls bound, who were shot in the head. Men and women burned alive. Young women who were raped and slaughtered. Soldiers who were beheaded.’

The claims about the beheadings have not been independently verified, but the Prime Minister confirmed that rescue workers and witnesses described ‘horrific scenes.’

The claim comes at a time when reports are emerging about babies being ‘beheaded’ by Hamas.

A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that toddlers and babies were found in Kfar Aza, a kibbutz (village) in southern Israel, with their ‘heads decapitated’ after Hamas’ attack over the weekend.

Doubts over babies beheading claims

Initially, US President Joe Biden claimed to have seen evidence of the baby ‘massacre,’ but a White House spokesperson later told the Washington Post that US officials ‘had not seen pictures or confirmed such reports independently.’

Biden reportedly based his comments about the alleged atrocities on the claims from Netanyahu’s spokesman and media reports from Israel, according to the White House.

More than 150 people are believed to have been kept as hostages in Gaza comprising soldiers, men, women, children, and older adults.

Israel has ramped up attacks against Gaza, with several top ministers announcing an invasion in the coming days.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began their one-on-one meeting in the Kirya military HQ in Tel Aviv, as matters escalated.

The two officials will give statements to the press afterwards.

Afterward, they are slated to meet with members of the emergency unity government, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Unity party leader Benny Gantz, and MK Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff.