Europe, India top buyers as Israeli defence industry sees unprecedented weapon sales
Israel’s defence industry is making record profits as its weapons manufacturers are marketing their products as “battle-tested”, using images of strikes on Gaza as proof of their purported success.
Despite an ongoing genocide trial in The Hague and an International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, countries around the world are buying these weapons in unprecedented amounts.
In 2024, Israel sold weapons worth $15bn, a 13 percent increase compared with the year before. Europe was the top buyer of Israeli weapons, followed by India.
“Armed drones were used in countless attacks against civilians in Gaza,” Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh said, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
“International law experts have long called on countries not to buy or sell weapons to Israel. But so long as profits pile up, it seems Palestinians will continue to be the human lab of modern warfare.”
US senator meets Netanyahu during Israel visit
US Senator Lindsey Graham has met the Israeli prime minister during a visit to Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.
In a video statement released by the office, Graham said he believed Hamas was not disarming after the Gaza ceasefire calling for it. “My impression is that Hamas is not disarming – they are rearming,” Graham said, adding that the group was seeking to consolidate power in Gaza rather than relinquish it.
The South Carolina Republican also said he believed Hezbollah in Lebanon was also trying to rebuild its military capabilities. “My impression is that Hezbollah is trying to make more weapons,” he said, calling such an outcome “not acceptable”.
Netanyahu agreed with Graham’s assessment, praising him as a “great friend of Israel”, according to the video.
Graham has previously drawn criticism for comments about Palestinians. Last year, he sparked anger after posting on the social media platform X that Palestinians in Gaza were “the most radicalised population on the planet” and comparing Hamas to the Nazi SS, remarks that prompted widespread backlash.
Just more lies for Fox news to carry.
Meanwhile from Lebanon
Lebanon claims first phase of Hezbollah’s disarmament close to complete
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/20/first-phase-of-hezbollahs-disarmament-close-to-complete-lebanons-salam
Lebanon is close to completing the disarmament of Hezbollah in the south of the Litani River before a year-end deadline as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, according to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
