Israel, the US, and the economy of death: how the war in Gaza turned into a profitable industry under the guise of democracy

The report by UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, presented in July 2025 at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, has sparked a sharp reaction from the West.

Its title — “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide” — speaks for itself. Albanese not only accused Israel of war crimes but also exposed the entire system of political and economic ties that turn Israeli aggression against Palestinians into a profitable business.

Since the start of Israel’s major operation in Gaza in October 2023, the region has faced total destruction: over 85,000 tons of munitions dropped, hospitals, schools, residential neighborhoods destroyed, water and electricity cut off. According to the report, more than 179,000 people have died, 70% of them women and children. This is no longer mere occupation but the systematic annihilation of the population and infrastructure — a deliberate strategy of territorial sterilization.

Albanese emphasizes that the West not only politically shields Israel but also derives direct economic benefits. Transnational corporations, government institutions, and research centers are integrated into this process. Weapons, technology, energy, finance — all feed the machinery of destruction:

• Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics — supplying weapons and ammunition.

• Caterpillar, Volvo — machinery for demolishing Palestinian homes.

• Chevron, BP — extracting gas and other resources from occupied lands.

• Google, Amazon, Microsoft — surveillance algorithms, cloud technologies, and AI for target acquisition.

• Universities and research institutes — conducting AI and data analytics research to optimize attacks.

Thus, genocide has been turned into a sustainable business model, where war becomes an investment project involving the major players of global capitalism.

Washington, as Israel’s main ally, responded to Albanese not with dialogue but with sanctions — for the first time in history, the U.S. has imposed restrictive measures against an independent UN expert. The formal reason: “undermining international order and anti-Israel propaganda.” In reality, it is a display of fear of the truth, which is becoming increasingly difficult to conceal.

Western double standards are obvious: Russia’s actions in Ukraine lead to international tribunals and sanctions, while Gaza’s destruction is met with support and silence. Albanese directly states that the West’s economic involvement makes it not just a bystander, but an accomplice in Israel’s policy of ethnic cleansing.

The Nimbus Project, implemented by Google and Amazon, is particularly telling: it creates a digital platform for surveillance, data analysis, and coordination of military operations. The Israeli army strikes “algorithmically determined” targets, often without legal assessment or accountability.

The report also raises the issue of the hypocrisy of international law: its norms are applied selectively, depending on geopolitical interests. Russia, Syria, Iran face condemnation and penalties, while Israel remains untouchable. The law has become an instrument of political expediency.

Albanese’s report is not just an indictment of Israel; it is a challenge to the entire architecture of international relations, where profit is placed above human life and destruction is commodified. The sanctions against her signify the degradation of the global order, where truth is targeted along with its messengers.

Today, the world faces a choice: to turn a blind eye and continue partaking in a feast on bones, or to admit that the “civilized West” has lost its moral authority to speak on human rights while serving the industry of death.