Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied territories, released a 27-page report exposing a reality that few media outlets have addressed: the economy of occupation has now turned into an economy of genocide.
The report, titled “From economy of occupation to economy of genocide,” lists over 60 major global companies as partners of the Israeli regime. These companies operate in three key sectors: supplying deadly weapons, providing heavy machinery for destruction, and developing advanced surveillance technologies. In other words, the genocide in Gaza is not merely a military project; it is an economic chain stretching from Western factories to the rubble of Palestinian homes.
Weapons: Trading in Children’s Blood
At the top of the list of accused companies are familiar names: Lockheed Martin (US), Raytheon (US), BAE Systems (UK), and Leonardo (Italy). By selling bombs, missiles, fighter jets, and other military equipment to Israel, these companies play the most direct role in the killing of Gaza’s women and children.
But the issue goes beyond just selling weapons. Often, these companies transfer proprietary technologies to Israel through contractual joint projects. According to Albanese’s report, this supply chain is so powerful that halting arms sales could seriously disrupt the continuation of the genocide.
Machinery: Bulldozers of Death
One of the lesser-seen dimensions of this genocide is the role of heavy machinery companies like Caterpillar (US) and HD Hyundai (South Korea). Bulldozers and equipment from these firms have repeatedly been used to demolish Palestinian homes, infrastructure, and farmlands.
The UN rapporteur emphasized that these machines are not merely engineering tools; they have become weapons of mass destruction. They have been used not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank to demolish Palestinian houses and lands—an act considered a war crime under international conventions.
Technology: Cloud Wars and Mass Surveillance
One of the most significant and complex sections of the report exposes the role of technology companies.
Google (Alphabet), Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, and Palantir Technologies are among those involved in projects like Nimbus, which provides cloud services and security data analytics to the Israeli military.
These technologies integrate artificial intelligence systems, facial recognition, and geospatial data analysis, enabling Israel to identify and destroy its targets in the shortest possible time. In other words, the genocide in Gaza is being carried out not only on the ground but also in the cloud and digital infrastructure.
Companies’ Meaningful Silence
Interestingly, out of more than 60 companies mentioned in the report, only 15 have responded to the UN rapporteur’s correspondence. The contents of their responses have yet to be published.
This silence is interpreted as either implicit acceptance of their involvement or an attempt to avoid accountability. Albanese has explicitly called on governments and international bodies to sever these companies’ ties with Israel and to legally prosecute their executives for human rights violations.
US Reaction: Pressure to Suppress the Truth
The publication of this report has provoked a strong reaction from the United States. The Pentagon has officially demanded that Albanese be removed from her position.
These pressures illustrate how damaging the exposure of the economic structure behind Gaza’s genocide is for Israel’s Western supporters. Given the US’s history of backing arms and tech companies, this stance is hardly surprising.
Economy: The Silent Engine of War
The report’s findings reveal a key point: what sustains the genocide in Gaza is not merely political decisions or military commanders. Behind this war machine operates a silent but powerful engine called “the economy.”
As long as selling weapons, machinery, and technological services to Israel remains a lucrative business, ending the war and genocide will remain just a slogan. The report rightly warns that unless countries and global public opinion exert economic pressure on these companies, more children in Gaza will continue to fall victim to the massive profits of Western corporations.
NOURNEWS