Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has come under fire for hosting paid advertisements soliciting funds for Israeli military units implicated in alleged war crimes. A report by Eko, a US-based campaigning organization, uncovered 98 advertisements targeting audiences in Europe and the US to raise funds for advanced military equipment. Items requested included thermal drones, assault rifle sights, night vision goggles, and helmets, many of which are reportedly used in ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon.
One particularly alarming advertisement featured an Israeli soldier, identified as Kobi, a “lead machine gunner” in the 551 Commando Brigade, making an appeal for night vision goggles in front of the ruins of a mosque. This brigade, along with the 8219 Combat Engineering Battalion, has been implicated in widespread demolitions across Gaza, including the destruction of residential areas, mosques, and entire neighborhoods—a pattern the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing has described as a potential crime against humanity.
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Another ad promoted by the Miami-based Tsedaka Center featured an Israeli captain soliciting donations for armor plates, tactical helmets, and assault rifle lasers through the Chesed Fund platform. These advertisements, according to Eko, may violate both US and EU laws on non-profits, as funds directed toward military purposes can undermine tax-exempt statuses.
Eko campaigner Maen Hammad sharply criticized Meta, claiming, “Meta has become the megaphone for the Israeli far-right, amplifying their calls and profiting from their ads which push their extremist and genocidal policies.”
Lawmakers’ Adverts Encourage Genocide and Settler Expansion
The problem doesn’t end with fundraising. Eko’s investigation also uncovered a troubling series of Hebrew-language advertisements by Israeli lawmakers calling for the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure and promoting the resettlement of Gaza.
Among these were ads from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who proudly declared his mission to block the creation of a Palestinian state, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, both notorious for their hardline stances. Yosi Dagan, a leader in the West Bank settler movement, also used Meta platforms to advocate for the resettlement of Gaza, stating, “This is our land, and we are here to build it.”
Such rhetoric, coupled with calls for the “dahiya doctrine”—a strategy of mass destruction targeting civilian infrastructure—exposes the genocidal ideology behind these campaigns. Despite Meta’s claim to prohibit hate speech and the promotion of violence, these ads have faced little to no meaningful scrutiny from the company’s review processes.
Big Tech’s Complicity in AI-Assisted Genocide
Facebook’s role in these campaigns is only one facet of a larger pattern of Big Tech complicity in Israel’s military operations. Reports have revealed that Israel is using AI-powered systems, such as “Lavender” and “The Gospel,” to identify and target Palestinians, including through WhatsApp data. The Lavender system reportedly processes tens of thousands of individuals based on tenuous connections, such as shared membership in WhatsApp groups, to determine targets for airstrikes.
Former Israeli military sources admitted that these systems prioritize ease of targeting over minimizing civilian casualties. Bombing family homes is often the first option, with little regard for the presence of children or other non-combatants. This indiscriminate approach, enabled by advanced AI technology, has led to the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians, including 14,500 children, since October 2023.
Meta’s WhatsApp, which claims to guarantee end-to-end encryption, has been accused of sharing user data with Israeli intelligence, raising questions about the platform’s commitment to privacy and human rights. Software engineer Paul Biggar has labeled this practice a direct violation of international humanitarian law, arguing that Meta has become complicit in the systematic targeting of Palestinians.
The Broader Role of Big Tech in Israeli Apartheid
Meta is far from alone in its entanglement with Israeli policies. Silicon Valley giants, including Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, have long provided the technological infrastructure enabling Israel’s surveillance and military operations. Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion cloud computing contract signed by Google and Amazon with the Israeli government, supplies tools for processing facial recognition, biometric data, and demographic analysis. Employees at both companies have raised concerns that these technologies are directly aiding military massacres.
Intel’s recent $25 billion investment in an Israeli chip plant and Microsoft’s launch of an Azure cloud region in Israel underscore how deeply US tech corporations are embedded in Israeli apartheid. These companies profit from supplying the systems that power both Israel’s economy and its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Meta’s Assault on Palestinian Voices
Meta’s complicity extends beyond fundraising and data sharing—it also actively suppresses Palestinian perspectives. Palestinian news outlets have reported a sharp decline in audience engagement on Facebook and Instagram since the onset of Israel’s latest assault on Gaza. Leaked documents reveal that Instagram increased its moderation of Palestinian content after October 2023, further silencing dissenting voices.
Meta has also been criticized for attempting to flag terms like “Zionist” as hate speech while permitting ads advocating violence against Palestinians. This selective censorship aligns with the platform’s broader role as a tool for amplifying Israeli state propaganda.
Accountability for Meta and Big Tech
The revelations about Meta’s role in enabling fundraising for war crimes, amplifying genocidal rhetoric, and facilitating AI-assisted massacres in Gaza are a stark reminder of the unchecked power of Big Tech. By providing platforms for hate speech, militarization, and censorship, these companies are complicit in perpetuating violence and oppression.
As calls for accountability grow louder, the question remains: will Big Tech face consequences for aiding in what many describe as a genocide? Or will profits continue to outweigh human rights? The world is watching, and history will not forget.