Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have reportedly involved bombs containing components made by the European missile manufacturer MBDA. According to investigations by The Guardian and other international media, the wings of the GBU-39 bombs—produced by Boeing in the United States—were manufactured in a facility run by MBDA Incorporated in Alabama. These components have allegedly been used in bombings that have killed hundreds of civilians, including many children. Amnesty International is investigating some of these strikes as potential war crimes.
At least 24 airstrikes between 2023 and May 2024 have been confirmed to involve the GBU-39 bomb. Over 500 people were reportedly killed in those strikes, more than 100 of whom were children. Many of the attacks happened at night, without warning, and targeted civilian areas such as schools, tents, and shelters. In one tragic instance, 36 people were killed while taking refuge in a school.
MBDA is a European multinational company jointly owned by major arms manufacturers: BAE Systems (UK), Airbus (France), and Leonardo (Italy). According to MBDA UK’s 2024 financial report, the company earned £4.2 billion in revenue and distributed £350 million in dividends—raising ethical questions about war profiteering.
Human rights organizations and UN officials have described the ongoing bombing in Gaza as genocidal and are calling for arms companies to be held accountable. UN investigator Francesca Albanese noted that the massacre in Gaza has been “profitable for many,” and warned that such violence will not end unless private companies are also held responsible.
This revelation highlights the deeply controversial links between the global arms trade, military policy, and human rights, raising serious moral and legal questions on a global scale.
