Companies like NSO can't sell their products to non-governmental actors, newly-appointed Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said on Thursday, while terming as an "internal thing" for New Delhi the row over spyware Pegasus.
His comments at a press conference came following questions over allegations of unauthorised surveillance using Israeli NSO Group's spyware Pegasus and whether the Indian government contacted Israel over the issue.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered an investigation into the matter.
The Israeli envoy said what is happening in India over Pegasus is an internal matter of the country.
"I will not go into more details...NSO is a private Israeli company. Every export of NSO or such companies need an export licence of the Israeli government. We grant this export licence only for exporting to governments," he said.
"This is the only main requirement that they cannot...under the requirements, they cannot sell it to non-governmental actors. What's happening here in India is an internal thing for India," he said.
An international investigative consortium had claimed that many Indian ministers, politicians, activists, businessmen and journalists were potentially targeted by the NSO Group's phone hacking software.
The Supreme Court has set up a three-member independent expert panel to probe the alleged use of Pegasus for targeted surveillance in India, observing the state cannot get a "free pass" every time the spectre of national security is raised and that its mere invocation cannot render the judiciary a "mute spectator" and be the bugbear it shies away from.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Exactly Like Hamas": Israeli Envoy On Mumbai Terror Attacks "Chak De India": Israeli Envoy Announces Special Contest Ahead of Final "Hope Israel Will Win This War Against Terrorism": Kangana Ranaut US Millionaire, Who Died By Suicide, Owed $34 Million With $8,000 In Bank On CCTV, Cops Seen Planting Drugs On Man In Mumbai, Suspended After Probe UK's Seat Should Go To India: Ex-Diplomat On UN Security Council Reforms 8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Trump "Disrespected Sacred Ground' At US Military Cemetery: Kamala Harris Top 10 US Universities Based On Forbes Rankings 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.