As the United Nations calls for a ceasefire, Boeing Apache helicopters fire missiles at Gaza

Photo: “Palestinian citizens and rescue workers inspect the destruction caused by air strikes on December 4, in Khan Younis, Gaza. Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images.”

In his letter to José de la Gasca, the President of the United Nations Security Council, dated Wednesday December 6, UN Secretary General António Guterres reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire. Guterres also highlighted his concern about “the constant bombardment [of Gaza] by the Israel Defense Forces”.

On the same day as his letter was delivered, Israeli military Apache helicopters continued their airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Three weeks earlier, UN Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups recommended the international community “implement an arms embargo on all warring parties” and warned “the failure to urgently implement a ceasefire risks this situation spiralling towards a genocide conducted with 21st century means and methods of warfare.”

On May 22, the Jerusalem Post also reported that the Israeli Air Force would need to decide soon about the purchase of 20 new helicopters from the United States.

That article adds: “According to IDF sources, the Air Force will soon have to make decisions according to the new state budget and will have to decide between a number of possible options. The IDF will be able to buy old ‘Delta’ Apaches that were put out of order in the US and upgrade them, or buy new Apache helicopters of the ‘Echo’ model, alternatively.”

It further notes: “These [Echo] helicopters possess far greater operational capabilities than the helicopters the Air Force has now. They are faster and stronger, and their radar enables operation in greater and more precise ranges. They can also carry 16 missiles and 76 rockets, and their nose has an upgraded cannon.”

The AH-64 Apache helicopter is made by the Boeing aerospace company.

Photo: “An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile in direction of the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)”

Photo: “An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile in direction of the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)”

Photo: “An Israeli military helicopter releases flares over the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, December 4.” Chad Zwigenberg/AP

Photo: “An Israeli military Apache helicopter and a jet fly close to the Gaza strip after a temporary truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas expired, as seen from southern Israel, December 3, 2023. REUTERS”

We continue to follow this and to support the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

We also note that Boeing is a sponsor of the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa that will take place on May 29-30, 2024.

Further reading: The Companies Profiting from Israel’s 2023 Attack on Gaza (American Friends Service Committee, December 7, 2023). That article notes: “Boeing also manufactures multiple types of unguided small diameter bombs (SDBs) and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, which convert these bombs into precision-guided munitions. Israel has been using these bombs extensively, including in a Nov. 1 bombing of Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp, which killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians and could amount to a war crime, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.”

Photo: “Palestinians search for bodies and survivors among the rubble of the Jabalia refugee camp one day after an airstrike hit the area, in northern Gaza, on Nov 1. PHOTO: EPA-EFE”