October 20, 2024
Tokyo, October 18, 2024 — Protests erupted at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition (JA2024) in Tokyo, leading to the forced closure of the booth operated by Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer. The protests, organized both inside and outside the exhibition hall, targeted Elbit Systems’ involvement in supplying weapons used in the ongoing genocide in Gaza and military operations in the West Bank.
Activists stormed Elbit Systems’ booth, holding signs and chanting slogans such as “Shame on you, Elbit!” and “The genocidal company must go!” Their presence, alongside the growing number of protesters outside the exhibition center at Tokyo Big Sight, prompted the company to shut down its display prematurely.
Elbit Systems, notorious for producing military drones and other advanced weaponry, has faced escalating criticism for its role in the Gaza genocide. Protesters accused the company of profiting from human suffering and using Palestinians as testing grounds for their weapons technology. One demonstrator’s sign stated bluntly, “We kill kids & make lots of money,” highlighting the outrage against what they called the “merchants of death” exhibiting at the event.
The protests come amid rising global condemnation of the arms trade, especially in Japan, a country whose constitution (Article 9) famously renounces war and prohibits maintaining military forces. Protesters pointed to the contradiction between Japan’s pacifist ideals and its hosting of an international arms exhibition. Many denounced the role of Elbit Systems in the Gaza massacre, where over 42,000 of Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing military operations.
Despite a heavy security presence, the activists made it clear that their goal was to disrupt the event and send a message against the normalization of arms sales in Japan, especially those involving companies like Elbit Systems, which they accuse of fueling the genocide in Gaza.
Outside the exhibition hall, protesters staged a “die-in,” lying on the ground to symbolize the countless lives lost to military violence. They demanded that Japan sever all ties with Israeli defense contractors, particularly Elbit Systems, whose presence at the exhibition was especially contentious due to its involvement in Gaza.
These protests reflect a broader international movement against Israel’s arms trade, which has been condemned by human rights organizations and UN experts. Israeli weapons manufacturers, including Elbit Systems, have been accused of violating international humanitarian law. Some countries, such as France, have already banned Israeli defense companies from participating in their arms fairs.
The Japan International Aerospace Exhibition, traditionally focused on commercial aviation and space technology, has increasingly become a platform for defense contractors to showcase military hardware. Protesters criticized this shift, accusing the exhibition of becoming a “de facto weapons trade show” and urging the Japanese government to halt collaborations with Israeli defense companies.
Elbit Systems has not yet issued an official response to the protests, but the forced closure of their booth represents a significant victory for the activists.
The protests in Tokyo are part of a growing global movement against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, with demonstrators vowing to continue their campaign against the arms trade and the violence it perpetuates.
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