Worth of Israel’s defence exports elevated 13 p.c in 2024 in contrast with the earlier yr to a document of just about $15bn.
Israeli arms firms made record-high revenues final yr, as weapons producers market a few of their merchandise as “battle-tested” after their deployment in Israel’s genocidal conflict towards the Palestinian folks in Gaza.
Israel’s defence exports elevated 13 p.c in 2024 in contrast with the earlier yr to a document of just about $15bn, dominated by missiles, rockets and air-defence techniques, the Israeli authorities mentioned in an announcement in June.
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Greater than half the deliveries in 2024 went to European militaries, whereas different shipments went to nations within the Asia Pacific area, led by India.
Israel is among the prime 10 arms-exporting countries on the earth.
The rise in revenues final yr got here as Israel confronted allegations of genocide in a case introduced by South Africa on the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice (ICJ), whereas the Worldwide Felony Courtroom has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged conflict crimes.
“Israel sells the thought of getting away with it,” Antony Loewenstein, writer of The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Expertise of Occupation Across the World, advised Al Jazeera.
“There’s a very nice enchantment of that to many different nations.”
Shir Hever, an Israeli arms commerce specialist, mentioned that the nations that import Israeli weapons are conscious that their motion is “unlawful”.
Hever advised Al Jazeera: “[Buyers] know {that a} genocide is going down, and third nations are below a authorized obligation to not commerce with nations which might be committing conflict crimes and crimes towards humanity.”
As Israeli weapons firms enhance revenues, Palestinians in Gaza who’ve survived the conflict recount assaults that killed their family members.
Kareem al-Birawi advised Al Jazeera that his mom and three siblings have been killed in a quadcopter assault on the Osama Ben Zaid College in Jabalia final yr.
“I noticed the drone enter the room. There was a crimson flash, then smoke got here out,” he mentioned.
“After that, there was an explosion and fireplace. My mum and aunt have been screaming. Then all of them went silent.”
‘We’re watched on a regular basis’
Israeli arms exports additionally embrace synthetic intelligence and surveillance instruments comparable to facial recognition know-how, which is put in in tons of of areas within the occupied West Financial institution and used extensively in Gaza.
Ahmad Lubbad, a launched Palestinian detainee, found the extent of Israel’s surveillance in December 2023 when he was detained.
He advised Al Jazeera that the Israeli troopers knew his spouse’s telephone quantity, his new and previous addresses, and the names of his neighbours and everybody he labored with.
“After what I went by means of within the interrogation, I’m satisfied we’re watched on a regular basis. Completely uncovered,” Lubbad mentioned.
Israel’s Ministry of Defence mentioned in June that there was large development in demand from Europe in 2024, with exports rising to 54 p.c of the entire from 36 p.c in 2023. Asia Pacific adopted Europe at 23 p.c, and america at 9 p.c .
Regardless of the elevated demand from Europe, some nations, comparable to Spain, have imposed restrictions on arms imports from Israel.
