Photo: Canada’s new CC-330 Husky refueling aircraft will be equipped with technology supplied by Elbit Systems.
The Israeli military has been implicated in the killing of at least 74 Palestinian human rights defenders over the last three years (including 43 human rights defenders in 2025, according to Front Line Defenders). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also noted that Israeli military forces have killed at least 203 journalists during that same three-year period. CPJ has further reported: “Israel was responsible for nearly 75% of the journalists and media workers killed by drones from 2023 to 2025.”
Earlier this year, the three largest Israeli weapons companies – Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and Rafael – reported increased revenues.
Last month, Israel Defense noted that Elbit Systems had “reported full-year revenues of $7.94 billion [in 2025], a 16% increase from $6.83 billion in 2024”. Israel Aerospace Industries also noted: “Gross profit in 2025 rose by USD 292 million to about USD 1,433 million compared with about USD 1,141 million in 2024.” And Rafael reported that in 2025: “Sales reached $6.28 billion — surpassing the $6 billion threshold for the first time. 46% of sales were to international customers.”
Now, The Times of Israel reports: “Annual Israeli arms sales reached a new record in 2025, for the fifth consecutive year, up nearly 30 percent compared to the previous year, according to Defense Ministry figures released [on June 2, 2026]. The ministry’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate, known as SIBAT, said defense exports totaled nearly $19.2 billion last year, up from $14.8 billion in 2024 — the previous record high.”
It is believed that SIBAT exhibits at the annual CANSEC arms show in Ottawa that attracted 50 international delegations in 2025 and 60 in 2026.
The article adds: “Europe was the largest purchaser of Israeli defense goods, buying 36% of the total exports in 2025, or $6.9 billion. …The Asia-Pacific region followed [at 32% with sales increasing from] around $3.4 billion in 2024 to $6.1 billion last year. …Middle Eastern and North African nations … accounted for 15% of the arms purchases, up from 12% in 2024. …[while] North America accounted for 13%, Latin America for 2%, and sub-Saharan Africa for 2%.”
Canada buys Israeli weapons systems
The Jerusalem Post noted in March 2024 that “the Canadian Defense Ministry purchased Israeli weapon systems worth more than a billion dollars” over the last decade, including “LR 2 Spike missiles from Rafael”, “MMR radars produced by the Elta Systems of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)”, and “small Skylark UAVs from Elbit System, the export version of the IDF’s ‘Sky Rider,’ which is also used in Israel’s current war in Gaza and is operated by ground brigades to identify enemies in the vicinity.”
In March 2024, The Maple also reported: “The Canadian military recently announced plans to purchase $43 million of a type of Israeli-made missile that has been flagged by human rights groups over its use in Israel’s past and present bombing campaigns on the Gaza Strip. …Defense News confirmed earlier this month that the missile system of choice would be the Spike LR2, manufactured and sold by Israeli state-owned arms dealer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.”
In December 2024, Esprit de Corps further reported: “The federal government spent U.S. $32 million ($45 million Canadian) to purchase Spike anti-tank missiles for use by Canadian Forces personnel in Latvia.”
In November 2023, Elbit Systems noted: “Elbit Systems Ltd. was awarded a contract by Airbus Defense and Space to supply the Direct Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM) and Infrared (IR) Missile Warning Systems for installation on the MRTT A330 refueling aircraft for Canada.” The first MRTT A330 (known as a CC-330 Husky), part of a CAD $3 billion contract for four new aircraft and the conversion of five other aircraft, will be delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 2027.
Alex Cosh, the news editor of The Maple, has explained: “First, and most obviously, these contracts use taxpayer dollars to help sustain the profitability of Israeli companies that play key roles in supplying the Israeli military with the tools it needs to carry out the genocide in Gaza. Second, by feeding the growth of Israel’s domestic arms industry, Canada is helping Israel to reduce its reliance on foreign imports, thus weakening the potential impact of current and future arms embargoes on Israel.”
It is not clear if Canada directly or indirectly bought military goods from Israel in 2025, but in recent years Canada sold $14.67 million dollars of military goods to Israel in 2025, $18.91 million in 2024, and $30.64 million in 2023.
The call for a two-way arms embargo
Organizations in Canada that support a two-way arms embargo that “recognizes the necessity of a two-way prohibition” include Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers), Labour for Palestine, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Anglican Church of Canada, BAYAN Canada, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR), International League of People’s Struggle in Canada, WILPF Canada, World Beyond War, Peace Brigades International-Canada.
