UAE exposed as secret buyer in huge arms deal with Israel: Report

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been identified as the undisclosed buyer behind a $ 2.3 billion contract signed last month by Israeli arms maker Elbit Systems, a report states.

The report by Intelligence Online, published on Thursday, stated that the $ 2.3 billion deal between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv involves the delivery of advanced military systems over eight years. 

The outlets placed the agreement among a series of major arms exports by Israeli arms companies in recent years.

Elbit earlier announced the contract without naming the purchasing state or disclosing the systems involved.

The exposure of the UAE as Elbit’s mystery client comes amid mounting condemnation from human rights organizations over Israel’s genocide in the besieged Gaza Strip.

International organizations such as Oxfam have warned that the transfer of advanced military systems risks enabling serious violations of international law and further civilian harm.

The revelation comes after a quiet expansion of UAE-Israel cooperation maintained throughout Israel’s genocide in the blockaded Palestinian territory, including progress on a cross-regional transport corridor kept largely out of public view. 

Last month, Israeli media reported that construction of the so-called “Peace Railway,” designed to move goods from India through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan to Haifa for onward export to Europe and the US, has already reached an advanced stage, with Emirati and Israeli authorities agreeing to establish a joint administration to manage the route.

In October, Israeli military firm Controp Precision Technologies opened its first UAE subsidiary in Abu Dhabi to produce, sell, and service Israeli electro-optical surveillance systems under Israeli oversight, further embedding the Emirati defense market into Israel’s arms industry.

The deepening relationship has also extended into the diplomatic sphere, as the UAE purchased land worth tens of millions of Israeli shekels (NIS) to construct its first permanent embassy in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories back in October.

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, in late October briefed members of the world body’s General Assembly on how more than sixty governments, most importantly Western powers and several Arab states, have been enabling the Israeli regime’s “genocidal machinery” in Gaza.

Israel’s arms firm Elbit reports record earnings amid Gaza genocide

Leading Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems has announced unprecedented profits attributed to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

European states among Israel’s most lucrative arms markets

Elbit Systems reported record profits in November, fueled by arms sales during Israel’s genocidal war in the besieged Palestinian region.

According to Intelligence Online, the scale and secrecy of the UAE agreement mirror Elbit’s earlier $1.63-billion contract with Serbia, signed in August,

The five-year Serbia deal includes long-range precision artillery rockets, unmanned aerial combat platforms and drones, advanced intelligence, surveillance, electronic warfare systems, and upgrades to combat vehicles and military platforms.

In November, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Israel and Albania signed an arms deal in September led by Elbit Systems to supply artillery, mortars and tactical drones. 

Back in August, Private Eye reported that the British Ministry of Defense was moving toward a $2.7-billion contract with Elbit Systems that would see Israel’s largest arms firm train up to 60,000 British troops annually and become a strategic partner to the UK military.

The largest of these was Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) sale of the Arrow 3 system to Germany in 2023 for $3.5 billion.

60-plus states complicit in Israeli genocide: Expert briefs UN General Assembly in scathing new report

The UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories briefs members of the world body’s General Assembly on her latest report on Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The developments come as Israeli arms firms continue securing contracts worldwide despite Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

A series of reports has already exposed the complicity of the US, Western states, and their regional allies in Gaza

Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 70,667 Palestinians, the majority being women and children, with 171,151 others injured, in Gaza.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk