Who Arms Israel?

Despite being one of the world’s leading arms exporters, Israel remains heavily dependent on Western powers to sustain its brutal war machine—particularly during its ongoing aggression against Gaza, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, wounded, or displaced.

At the forefront of this military support are the United States, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and other Western allies who continue to provide Tel Aviv with advanced weaponry, precision-guided munitions, and fighter jets—many of which the Israeli defense industry is still incapable of producing independently.

Ironically, Israeli defense officials were left baffled when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently hinted that Israel may one day forgo U.S. military aid—despite receiving over $4 billion annually. This statement came amid mounting international calls to halt weapons exports to Israel due to its ongoing war crimes and genocidal campaign in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

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United States: Israel’s Lifeline

America is Israel’s largest arms supplier—by a wide margin. According to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), between 2019 and 2023, 69% of Israel’s major conventional arms came from the U.S.

The U.S. allocates $3.3 billion annually under a 10-year defense agreement to maintain Israel’s so-called “Qualitative Military Edge” over its neighbors, including $500 million for missile defense systems like Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow—all co-developed with American firms.

Since October 7, 2023, the U.S. has approved over 100 separate weapons sales to Israel, including:

 

• • Thousands of precision-guided bombs

• • Small-diameter bombs and bunker busters

• • Assault rifles and heavy weaponry

American-made munitions have been used in numerous Israeli airstrikes, many of which targeted civilians.

Israel is also the first foreign operator of the F-35 stealth fighter jet, having received 36 of 75 ordered units.

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Germany: Silent Enabler

Germany is the second-largest weapons supplier to Israel (30% of imports, 2019–2023).

Key military exports include:

 

• • Submarines and warships

• • Engines for land, air, and sea vehicles

• • Torpedoes for naval operations

In 2022, Israel signed a $3.3 billion deal with Germany for advanced Dakar-class submarines. In 2023 alone, German arms exports to Israel reached $361 million—a tenfold increase from 2022. Most licenses were issued after the start of the Gaza war.

Major German arms companies include Rheinmetall and Thyssenkrupp.

In 2024, the International Court of Justice rejected Nicaragua’s request to force Germany to halt arms sales to Israel—despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes.

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Italy: Low-Key but Involved

Though smaller in volume, Italy is Israel’s third-largest weapons supplier, contributing 0.9% of imports.

Italian exports included:

 

• • Helicopters

• • Naval artillery

• • Components for F-35 jets

Italy’s largest arms firm, Leonardo, produces the naval gun used on Sa’ar warships, which bombarded Gaza on October 16, 2023.

In March 2024, Italy claimed it reviewed all exports “case-by-case” to ensure they weren’t being used against civilians—yet evidence shows ongoing shipments during active conflict.

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United Kingdom: Complicit Through Components

In 2023, the UK exported $24.2 million in arms to Israel and maintained 345 active export licenses. These include components for warplanes, tanks, and naval systems.

In September 2024, Foreign Secretary David Lammy suspended 30 licenses, but loopholes allowed British arms to continue flowing—including F-35 parts likely used in Gaza.

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France: Behind the Veil of Secrecy

French arms exports to Israel are shrouded in secrecy. Still, records show:

 

• • $33 million in 2023

• • Parts for Hermes 900 drones

• • Collaborations with Elbit Systems (via Thales and Watchkeeper UAV programs)

A 2024 exposé by Disclose and Marsactu revealed that French firm Eurolinks sold M27 link belts to Israel—used in machine guns potentially fired at civilians in Gaza.

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Belgium: Double Standards

While Belgium called for an EU-wide arms embargo on Israel in 2024, data shows:

 

• • 2023: 16 tonnes of gunpowder shipped from Antwerp

• • Ten military cargo flights landed in Israel between Nov 2023 and Mar 2024

• • May 2024: Belgium banned all military transits to Israel—after widespread backlash

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India: Strategic Partner in Arms

India is Israel’s largest arms customer, accounting for 37% of Israeli defense exports (2019–2023).

Indian firms co-produce:

 

• • Explosives,

• • Drones,

• • AI-based weapons systems (e.g. “Arbil”, used in Gaza in late 2024)

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Other Western Players Enabling War Crimes:

 

• • Spain: Supplied $1M in ammo (Nov 2023); parliament now considering arms embargo

• • Canada: Despite pledges, authorized $28.5M in military exports since Oct 2023

• • Serbia: Secretly shipped $15M in arms to Israel (Mar 2024), refused transparency

• • Sweden: Approved a $170M deal with Elbit Systems (Oct 2023)

• • Denmark: Sued by NGOs for supplying F-35 parts used in Gaza bombings

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A Global Web of Complicity

As the bombs fall on Gaza, a global supply chain keeps the occupation armed and emboldened. Western nations—while posturing as defenders of human rights—continue to profit from bloodshed through state-approved military contracts.

Calls for accountability, arms embargoes, and boycotts are growing. Yet so far, international institutions have failed to translate outrage into action. The result? A genocide enabled by the world’s most powerful nations.