Boeing
Boeing is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotorcraft, rockets, satellites, and missiles worldwide, ranking as the world's largest aerospace company and one of the largest war contractor. The company produces commercial jetliners, military aircraft including fighter jets and attack helicopters, and weapons systems. Boeing is listed by the Who Profits research center as a company complicit in Israel's apartheid system, genocide, and war crimes, with documented evidence showing Boeing weapons have been used in unlawful Israeli airstrikes that killed many children in Gaza.
Boeing directly profits from military operations that systematically target Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, maintaining a decades-long partnership with Israeli occupational forces while providing weapons used in documented war crimes and human rights violations. The American aerospace corporation has maintained this weapons supply relationship since 1948, providing the tools for Israel's military occupation and enforcement of apartheid policies.
Military Weapons Supply and War Crimes
Boeing manufactured weapons have been identified at sites of documented war crimes against Palestinian civilians. Amnesty International found that Israeli occupational forces used Boeing Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) in two deadly airstrikes on family homes in Gaza during October 2023, killing 43 civilians including 19 children. These attacks were classified as either direct attacks on civilians or indiscriminate attacks that must be investigated as war crimes.
The corporation's GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs were used to destroy residential buildings in the Al-Shati refugee camp, killing ten civilians including four children. Human Rights Watch identified these strikes as apparent war crimes, noting the precision weapons were deployed against civilian targets without military justification.
Between 2021-2023, Boeing emerged as the top US manufacturer of missiles and munitions delivered to Israel, providing nearly 3,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs and an estimated 3,000 JDAM guidance kits. These weapons have been systematically used to target Palestinian civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and refugee camps.
Ongoing Military Operations and Occupation Support
Boeing Apache helicopters have been deployed in Israel's targeted killings program in Gaza since 1990 and used for military operations in the occupied West Bank. In June 2023, Israel used Apache helicopters to fire missiles in the West Bank as well.
The company's F-15 fighter jets serve as the backbone of Israeli Air Force operations against Gaza and Lebanon. Boeing has secured new contracts to supply Israel with 25 additional F-15 fighter jets in a $5.2 billion deal, with deliveries starting in 2031.
Boeing KC-46 aerial refueling tankers enable Israel's long-range military operations, including the 12-day air campaign against Iran. Israel operates four Boeing KC-46 tankers and has ordered two additional aircraft in a $500 million deal funded through US military aid.
Documented Human Rights Violations
UN experts have called for Boeing and other weapons manufacturers to immediately cease arms transfers to Israel, warning that companies risk complicity in serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented Boeing weapons in attacks that fail to distinguish between military and civilian targets, potentially constituting war crimes.
During Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza, Apache helicopters fired missiles that killed at least 13 Palestinian children directly. Boeing weapons were used in airstrikes that damaged or destroyed 18,000 housing units and 73 medical facilities, killing 2,251 Palestinians including 551 children.
The 2008-2009 Gaza assault involved Boeing Apache helicopters that killed 1,383 Palestinians, including 333 children. Amnesty International documented the use of Boeing-manufactured Hellfire missiles in attacks targeting medical staff and children.
Corporate Structure and Accountability
Vanguard Group holds the largest stake in Boeing at around8.9% of shares, followed by BlackRock at around 6.60%. These institutional investors maintain significant influence over Boeing's weapons manufacturing decisions that directly enable human rights violations.
Boeing has failed to respond to UN experts' calls to address human rights concerns related to its weapons being used in Gaza attacks. The corporation continues to prioritize profit from weapons sales over compliance with international humanitarian law.
Sources:
- Amnesty International Global complicity, UK involvement: Profiting from atrocity and enabling Israel’s genocide and apartheid – new briefing
- Amnesty International USA: Israel has used US-made arms in Gaza in violation of international law - new report
- Amnesty International Israel/OPT: US-made munitions killed 43 civilians in two documented Israeli air strikes in Gaza – new investigation
- AFSC Investigate Boeing Co
- Britannica Money Boeing Company
- Business & Human Rights Resource Centre Boeing did not respond to allegations of equipment used in Gaza attacks & to the UN experts' call to cease arms transfers to Israel
- Human Rights Watch Gaza: Apparent War Crimes During May Fighting
- KUOW Off the Charts: Boeing was top U.S. manufacturer of missiles and munitions delivered to Israel from 2021-2023
- Middle East Eye Israel uses Apache helicopter fire in West Bank for first time since 2002
- Reuters Israel to place $500 million, US-funded order for Boeing aerial refuelling tankers
- Reuters Israel signs $5.2 billion deal to acquire 25 F-15 fighter jets from Boeing
- Who Profits Boeing Company