Responding to ABC reporting that counter drone technology designed and built by Australian company Electro Optic Systems have been tested by Israeli Forces earlier this year, Amnesty International Australia reiterates its call for a transparent, national control system over the exports of all military and dual-use equipment and munitions, including parts and components.
The Australian government should also immediately suspend export permits to the United States for ammunition manufactured by Electro Optic Systems, Lockheed Martin and Thales Australia pending legally binding assurances that these items will not be re-exported to Israel.
Australia must comply with the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and to ensure Australian products are not used to commit war crimes. Under international law, supplying components or materials that facilitate war crimes can result in legal liability for both states and corporations.
In August 2024, Amnesty International Australia warned of major concerns regarding the onward sale of arms and arms parts from Australia to the Israeli military via intermediate countries.
“The news of Australian components being legally exported to the United States and then sent on to Israel to be used in their genocide against Palestinians in Gaza is precisely what Amnesty International has been warning the Australian government against.”
Amnesty Australia spokesperson for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Mohamed Duar
“The Albanese government’s repeated denials of the transfer of Australian products to Israeli Forces via intermediate countries has been frustrating and distressing for every Australian horrified by Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Prime Minister Albanese repeated this claim just three days on live national television at the election leaders’ debate, insisting that Australian weaponry and munitions were not being supplied to Israel.”
“With unimaginable human suffering of Palestinians trapped in Gaza, a prime example of the transfer of Australian products to Israeli Forces via intermediate countries has been exposed, and the government must act to immediately end this immoral, unlawful practice.”
Research by Defense Mirror in 2024 found it likely that Australian company Thales was supplying 155mm artillery ammunition shells and completed M795 155mm projectiles to Israel, via an approved export permit to the United States. 1
In December 2023, an export permit for $147.5 million worth of 155mm shells was approved by the United States to be sent to Israel. The export permit from the United States included M795 155mm shells, which are the same kind manufactured by Thales Australia and legally exported from Australia to the United States.2
In November 2024, over 230 global civil society organisations called for the immediate end of all arms transfers to Israel by countries involved in the production of F-35 fighter jets. The F-35 jet programme partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States (lead partner). Israel has used F-35 jets in its bombardment of Palestinians in Gaza.
“The level of secrecy that currently surrounds Australia’s defence exports not only risks our compliance to the ATT but also risks Australia helping to facilitate Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which is morally reprehensible and completely unacceptable to every Australian who cares about human rights and the lives of innocent civilians,”
Mohamed Duar
Australia signed ATT in New York on 3 June 2013 and ratified it on 3 June 2014. The ATT was designed to stop the supply of weapons to [entities] who will use them to commit serious human rights violations, including genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
In the absence of a UN Security Council arms embargo, Amnesty International is calling on the Australian Government to immediately impose a comprehensive national arms embargo on Israel, Hamas and other armed groups until there is no longer a substantial risk that arms could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law; and effective accountability mechanisms are in place.
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