U.S. military aid to Israel is once again under scrutiny. This time, the focus is on the shipment of 14 tonnes of explosives via New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport—one of the busiest passenger hubs in the United States.
According to documents published by U.S.-based news platform The Intercept, a cargo plane operated by Challenge Airlines Israel took off from JFK on Saturday and landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. The shipment contained 51 pallets of nitrocellulose—a highly flammable compound—destined for IMI Systems, a leading Israeli arms manufacturer and subsidiary of Elbit Systems.
Explosives Shipped from a Passenger Airport
This alarming development took place at JFK Airport, where passenger and cargo operations share the same infrastructure. The transport of highly volatile substances such as nitrocellulose from a major civilian airport raises serious concerns about whether U.S. authorities are neglecting passenger safety.
According to the U.S. Army, nitrocellulose is considered an explosive equivalent to TNT. It is used in the manufacturing of various weapons, from sniper rounds to missiles. One of the most notable incidents involving this compound occurred in 2015, when a nitrocellulose explosion at the port of Tianjin in China killed 173 people and injured over 700 others.
Destination: Israel’s Largest Weapons Manufacturer
The documents reveal that the shipment was destined for IMI Systems, located near Tel Aviv. Formerly known as Israel Military Industries, the company is a major supplier to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Its parent company, Elbit Systems, produces a wide range of weapons, including ground combat vehicles, rocket systems, drones, and controversial cluster munitions.
Secret Shipments Uncovered
This particular shipment was brought to light through a joint investigation by Irish news outlet The Ditch and the Palestinian Youth Movement. According to activists, JFK Airport is being used as a coordination hub for shipments of ammunition, explosives, and fighter jet parts to Israel. The Intercept notes that this is the first documented nitrocellulose shipment from JFK and the largest explosive transfer to date.
U.S. Military Aid Under Fire
In 2024 alone, the U.S. provided Israel with nearly $17.9 billion in military aid. A significant portion of this aid was allocated for the purchase of arms and munitions directly from American defence contractors, a system that heavily supports the U.S. defence industry.
Furthermore, the Palestinian Youth Movement previously revealed that regular military shipments to Israel are conducted from the U.S. Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point in North Carolina. Some of these shipments have allegedly bypassed Spain’s arms embargo. The majority of these transfers are carried out by Danish shipping giant Maersk.
Backlash Mounts
Civil society organisations and security experts have raised serious concerns about the risks posed to passenger safety when explosive materials are transported via commercial airports. International criticism is also growing over the integration of civilian infrastructure into the war economy.
This latest development is likely to reignite global debate around the legality of U.S. military support for Israel, particularly in relation to international law, alleged war crimes, and civilian safety.
