As Gaza burns, US companies cash in on rising arms deals: WSJ
Major US defense and tech firms have seen a surge in profits amid increased weapons sales to "Israel", raising concerns over war-driven corporate gain.
-
Palestinians walk through the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 (AP)
Two years into "Israel’s" ongoing genocide in Gaza, the US arms pipeline sustaining the assault shows no signs of slowing down. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the war has translated into soaring profits for top American defense contractors, including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Caterpillar, whose military exports to "Israel" have surged sharply since October 2023.
Washington has approved more than $32 billion in weaponry, ammunition, and equipment for "Israel" since the genocide began, an unprecedented figure based on State Department disclosures.
"Israel’s" war on Gaza has left more than 68,000 Palestinians killed, including over 18,000 children, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.
The destruction has deepened regional animosity, yet fueled new profits for the US defense sector and American tech giants involved in military contracts.
Costs underwritten by US taxpayers
Much of the cost has been underwritten by US taxpayers. "Israel’s" annual $3.3 billion in military financing more than doubled last year to $6.8 billion, excluding non-cash assistance.
Even if the fragile truce evolves into lasting peace, analysts say, as quoted by WSJ, "Israel’s" defense needs and its contracts with US suppliers will persist, given what it claims are ongoing threats from Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, and beyond.
Boeing emerges as the biggest beneficiary
The prime corporate winner has been Boeing, which last year secured US approval for an $18.8 billion sale of F-15 strike fighters to "Israel", with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.
This year alone, Boeing-linked partnerships have been cleared for an additional $7.9 billion in bomb and guidance-kit sales, a figure that dwarfs "Israel’s" previous decade-long pledge to buy $10 billion in Boeing aircraft.
Other major suppliers include Northrop Grumman, providing fighter jet components; Lockheed Martin, which produces precision missiles; and General Dynamics, maker of 120mm tank shells used in "Israel’s" Merkava tanks.
Ground operations: Smaller contracts, heavy consequences
While aerial weaponry dominates US sales, ground-operation contracts have also played a role. Caterpillar’s armored D9 bulldozers, used extensively across Gaza to clear rubble and raze structures, have become ubiquitous.
"Israel’s" Eitan armored vehicles feature US-made components, including a hull from Wisconsin-based Oshkosh and an engine from Rolls-Royce’s Michigan unit.
It is worth noting that American and European investors have increasingly voiced opposition to corporate involvement in "Israel’s" wars.
Human rights concerns drive alienation
Over the past year, three Norwegian investment funds divested from Oshkosh, Palantir, Caterpillar, and Thyssenkrupp, citing human rights concerns.
In October, the Dutch pension fund ABP, the Netherlands’ largest, sold its €387 million ($448 million) stake in Caterpillar over Gaza-related ethics concerns.
Germany announced in August that it would halt new weapons exports to "Israel" for use in Gaza “until further notice.”
In September, Microsoft restricted the Israeli Security Ministry’s access to its cloud services following employee protests. Before the war, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon had signed multimillion-dollar deals to provide AI and cloud-computing services to the Israeli occupation forces.
AI company Palantir, co-founded by Trump ally Peter Thiel, signed a defense partnership with "Israel" in January 2024. At a conference this May, CEO Alex Karp responded to accusations that "Israel" had used Palantir’s software to target civilians, saying those killed were “mostly terrorists.”
Palantir later stated it was “proud to support Israeli defense and national security missions” and maintains “a longstanding commitment to the preservation of human rights.”
Relief turns to business opportunity
Even humanitarian relief has become a business opportunity. The US State Department allocated $30 million to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, run by former Trump advisor Johnnie Moore, to coordinate aid distribution.
The foundation contracted American firms Safe Reach Solutions and UG Solutions to handle logistics and security, amid reports of chaos and killings of starved Palestinians at aid sites.
Defense industry’s financial boost
The war’s continuation has buoyed US defense revenues. Lockheed Martin reported a 13% jump in missile-division income last year to $12.7 billion, partly from US spending tied to "Israel" and Ukraine. Oshkosh said fresh Israeli orders had extended the life of a production line set to close.
Italian defense contractor Leonardo likewise predicted stable profits this year “because of the continuing conflicts in both Ukraine and Israel.”
For Boeing, struggling with strikes and supply-chain woes, international arms sales have provided a crucial lifeline. Its 2024 earnings filing noted “solid demand as governments prioritize security, defense technology, and global cooperation given evolving threats.”
A State Department spokesperson reiterated that “the Trump Administration has consistently supported Israel’s right to defend itself and is now leading a regional effort to bring this war to an end.”
While a State Department spokesperson claimed that “the Trump Administration has consistently supported Israel’s right to defend itself and is now leading a regional effort to bring this war to an end,” Washington is simultaneously pursuing congressional approval for nearly $6 billion in new weapons sales to "Israel". This includes a $3.8 billion deal for Boeing’s Apache helicopters, set to nearly double "Israel’s" current fleet, highlighting the stark contradiction between calls to end the war and the continued escalation of military support.