Key Points and Summary – Australia’s government is facing intense political pressure over its export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, which are being used in the conflict in Gaza.
-After initially dismissing reports as “misinformation,” the Defence Department admitted to upholding dozens of pre-existing export permits.
-Critics, including the Green Party and Amnesty International, accuse the government of being complicit in alleged war crimes and are demanding an immediate halt to all arms transfers.
-The controversy highlights the complex role of over 75 Australian companies that are part of the global F-35 supply chain.
Australian Gov Faces Heat Over Israel F-35 Parts Exports
Australia’s governing Labor Party is facing heat over the ongoing export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel used in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The country’s Green Party, Amnesty International, and a host of media outlets have presented Australia’s military export contracts to Israel as an endorsement of “genocide” in the region.
The accusations follow initial denials from the Australian government that it is supplying weapons and ammunition to Israel by Defence Minister Richard Marles.
After claiming that reports of weapons experts were “misinformation,” the Australian Department of Defence later admitted that 35 export permits had been granted prior to October 7, 2023, and have since been upheld.
Meet the F-35I Adir
Israel’s use of F-35I “Adir” warplanes – an Israeli variant of the U.S.-made F-35 platform – has been controversial for some time.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say that the F-35 has been used to “strike terror targets and assist ground forces in very close proximity strikes,” and the aircraft have proven an invaluable tool throughout both the conflict in Gaza and during the recent 12-Day War with Iran.
Over 75 Australian companies have so far contributed to the export of F-35 parts to Israel, according to the Australian Department of Defence.
What Critics Are Saying
In February 2025, Amnesty International reported how more than 230 global organizations were demanding governments that produce F-35 fighter jets “immediately halt all arms transfers to Israel.”
“Civil society organisations around the world have taken legal action to hold their governments accountable for the F-35 programme, and complicity in Israel’s crimes in Gaza,” an Amnesty report reads, pointing to partners of the F-35 program, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States.
Amnesty points to Australian-manufactured parts and components making their way to Israel as part of these prior agreements, claiming the deals raise “serious concerns about Australia’s potential involvement in the atrocities unfolding in Gaza.”
A statement from the Australian Green Party published in August alleges that the government’s initial denials constitute a “weak attempt to mislead the public to avoid taking material action.”
“Australia, like all nations, is obliged to act to prevent genocide and war crimes. This includes ending the export of armoured steel, critical materials and F-35 weapons parts to Israel’s weapons industry and military,” the statement reads.
A cartoon published by The Guardian expressed similar sentiment, claiming Australia is “assisting Israel to commit genocide by providing parts for F-35 fighters.”
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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Krystal cane
August 30, 2025 at 5:32 pm
I see The Australian version doesn’t murder children in hospitals like the Israeli one does 🤔
B. Lerner
September 9, 2025 at 3:01 pm
F-35 is a distributed program that all participants essentially begged to be part of. If Australia chooses to try to hijack that program, to bend it to suit Australian politcal ends, then the United States should reply by ending Australian participation in the program. Then Australia should be barred from any existing or future American military programs, since it would have proved itself a highly untrustworthy partner.
Participation is not a synonym of hijacking. If Australia wants to control a program, it can fund and run it itself.