Thousands of starving people wait for hours in scorching 90-degree heat to grab bags of flour that disappear within minutes—this is now common at Gaza’s last four aid distribution centers. The crisis isn’t caused by a lack of food—the World Food Programme has tons of supplies ready for Gaza’s malnourished population. The real issue is Israel’s months-long blockade on aid, which over 100 humanitarian groups say is creating “chaos, starvation, and death.” While Israel recently allowed a few aid trucks through over the weekend, this small gesture comes too late for the third of Gazans who haven’t eaten in days and the dozens who’ve already starved to death.
Meanwhile, Israel has kept one type of shipment flowing freely: weapons. Bombs, guns, and ammunition continue pouring into the Israeli military without restriction. A new UN report by Francesca Albanese, the special investigator for Palestinian territories, reveals the main supplier of these deadly weapons—the United States.
Titled “From Occupation Economy to Genocide Economy,” the report exposes how major U.S. corporations have eagerly fueled Israel’s attacks on Gaza in exchange for billions in profits. It also confirms America’s undeniable role in what many call the worst humanitarian crisis of this century.
While war profiteering is nothing new, Albanese’s investigation shows how the military-industrial complex is enabling unprecedented destruction in Palestine. Lockheed Martin-built fighter jets have killed or injured nearly 200,000 Palestinians. Palantir has partnered with Israel’s military (though it denies helping target Gaza). Caterpillar equipment has crushed homes and hospitals with civilians still inside.
Tech giants are among the worst offenders. Google—once guided by “Don’t be evil”—now teams with Amazon to provide $1.2 billion in cloud services to Israel’s military. An Israeli colonel called this technology “a weapon in every sense,” as deadly as poison gas.
The U.S. government has dismissed Albanese’s findings, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling her work “political warfare.” But her conclusions match those of many Jewish and Israeli voices. Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov stated: “I’ve taught genocide studies for 25 years. I know it when I see it.” Two major Israeli human rights groups recently agreed. Journalist Peter Beinart calls Gaza’s crisis “an astonishing level of normalized suffering,” while Israeli newspaper Haaretz runs headlines like “The Mathematics of Starvation.”
In Congress, progressives like Rashida Tlaib and Bernie Sanders demand an end to U.S. arms shipments to Israel. Some Democrats have even proposed the “Block the Bombs Act” to restrict weapon sales without congressional approval.American-made weapons from companies like Boeing and General Dynamics continue to fuel the conflict. While the proposed bill has made little progress, public anger over Gaza has united voters across party lines. Just 23% of Americans believe Israel’s military actions are justified. Yet turning this outrage into a sustained movement faces major obstacles, as activists like Mahmoud Khalil face deportation for pro-Palestinian advocacy and global protests meet violent crackdowns.
Despite these challenges, grassroots efforts to halt weapons shipments to Israel remain a tangible path for change. Students in Israel, the U.S., and worldwide have bravely taken a stand, risking retaliation, expulsion, and blacklisting. To succeed, a broader coalition must pressure lawmakers to prioritize voters’ concerns over AIPAC-funded political threats.
Beyond protests, Americans can boycott corporations profiting from Palestinian suffering. Workers at these companies can also take action, like the 50 Google employees fired last year for protesting under the banner “No Tech for Apartheid.” Without such efforts, Peter Beinart’s warning holds true: “Blood is on our hands as Americans because our weapons are starving children to death.”
Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, dehydrated toddlers wait for sips of contaminated water, while doctors in Gaza City scavenge for expired food to survive.
Katrina vanden Heuvel is editorial director and publisher of The Nation, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a contributor to The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.*
