BRUSSELS

More than 20 leading global arms trade experts issued a joint statement on Tuesday backing UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and her recent report which highlights corporate complicity in Israel's war on Gaza.

The statement, released by Shadow World Investigations, praised Albanese's report, titled From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide, as "forensic, detailed, accurate and extremely important," stressing its significance at a time when she faces what they described as "unprecedented and unjustified attacks" from the US and Israeli governments.

"Rather than attack this crucial report and its esteemed author, these states, and all countries, should urgently apply and enforce all arms export controls, which must lead to an immediate cessation of arms sales to Israel while the genocide continues," the experts said.

Albanese’s report identifies both Israeli and Western defense corporations as complicit in the assault on Gaza. It also points to technology companies such as Palantir, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet for providing services enabling surveillance, targeting, and military operations.

According to the report, more than 1,650 private companies are involved in producing a single weapons system, the F-35 fighter jet, reflecting a vast global web of corporate complicity.

It also highlights the role of financial institutions, energy giants, logistics providers, and consultancies.

The experts condemned Washington’s move to impose sanctions on Albanese and to call for her dismissal, describing it as an attempt to "quash her superb report."

"It is unacceptable to us that arms manufacturers, with the support of their governments, violate their own domestic arms export controls, regional and international agreements such as the EU Common Position on Arms Exports and the international Arms Trade Treaty," the statement read.

The signatories urged the UN to reject calls by the US and Israel for Albanese's removal, and reiterated demands for an immediate halt to all arms transfers to Israel, including weapons, munitions, military fuel, dual-use items, and logistical services.