A recent report by a coalition of four non-governmental organizations alleges that numerous shipments containing explosives and components for fighter jets have been transported from Canada to Israel through the United States over the past two years. The report, which analyzed export data and U.S. Department of Defense contracts, claims that these shipments circumvent Canada’s export controls by passing through the U.S. before reaching Israel.
According to Rachel Small, a Canadian activist with the World Beyond War group, these exports are aiding Israel in carrying out actions classified as war crimes in Gaza. The report highlights 34 instances of military aircraft parts being sent to U.S. facilities owned by Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35 fighter jet, before being promptly transferred to Israel. Additionally, it mentions 360 aircraft part shipments to an F-35 assembly plant in Texas, 150 shipments of explosives from Quebec to the U.S., and 433 shipments of TNT from Poland to the U.S. and then to Israel, passing through Quebec’s Port of Saguenay.
The report, which will be released soon, utilized commercial export data and U.S. Defense Department contracts to track the movements of Canadian-made goods from American facilities to Israeli military manufacturers. While the exact use of these shipments by Israeli military facilities is unknown, the report emphasizes the critical role of replacement and repair parts in sustaining modern fighter jets like the F-35.
Global Affairs Canada stated that no new permits for items potentially used in the current Gaza conflict have been approved for Israel since early 2024. The report also calls attention to legal loopholes in Canada’s export regulations, highlighting how goods sent to the U.S. evade Canadian oversight, creating a disconnect between Canada and the final destination of these military exports.
Examples outlined in the report include aircraft parts manufactured in Canada, such as power and thermal management controllers from Honeywell Aerospace, and uplock assemblies from Héroux-Devtek, which were subsequently sent to Israel via U.S. facilities. The report also details the transportation of explosives from General Dynamics plants in Quebec to U.S. army ammunition plants producing bombs for export to Israel.
The coalition of NGOs is advocating for a complete embargo on the flow of weapons and military components to Israel, both directly and indirectly through the U.S. loophole. Their findings were presented at a news conference, where NDP MP Jenny Kwan introduced a bill aiming to end U.S. exemptions for arms control permits. The bill is scheduled for debate in the House of Commons, with support from various MPs across party lines.
Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Nitro-Chem, companies mentioned in the report, were contacted for comments but provided limited responses due to the sensitivity of the issue and the nature of their operations.