Blood diamonds: Exposing the industry funding Israel’s war machine

While the world is focused on the Israeli regime’s war crimes in Gaza, a new report reveals that Israel’s diamond industry plays a key role in financing the regime. The regime controls nearly one-fifth of the global diamond market.

Human rights activists warn that diamond buyers should be aware that they may be unknowingly supporting genocide.

According to a report by Middle East Monitor, Israel’s diamond industry, which processes and polishes billions of dollars’ worth of raw diamonds annually from Africa, Canada, and Russia, is one of the main pillars of the Israeli economy.

This industry not only sustains the Israeli economy but also directly contributes to financing apartheid projects and war crimes in Palestine. Informed sources emphasize that diamonds processed by Israel finance war crimes and are linked to severe human rights violations, including genocide in Gaza.

By processing and polishing 20 percent of the total value of global diamonds, the Israeli regime enjoys unmatched dominance in this market. The volume of raw diamond trade flowing into the occupied territories amounts to billions of dollars, turning Israel into a major global gateway. This massive market share enables the occupying regime to generate enormous revenues for its military budget and war operations.

Experts warn that without international pressure, this cycle of “blood diamonds” will continue.

Pressure on major companies to cut ties with the occupiers

In a key development, activist shareholders of Anglo American—the parent company of De Beers—have linked the company’s diamond supply chain to Israeli war crimes and have called for severing ties with the regime.

De Beers, which controls more than half of the world’s raw diamond supply, is now under intense pressure. Anglo American recently announced that it intends to sell its stake in De Beers—a move that some analysts say could deal a fatal blow to Israel’s diamond industry.

African countries such as Botswana and Angola are also competing to buy into or become partners in the ownership of De Beers. This competition will not only affect the future of the diamond market but could also disrupt the financial flow to the Israeli regime.

Activists say De Beers is vital to the economy of the Israeli occupying regime, and cutting ties with it would deprive the regime of a major source of funding.

Violation of international standards

The report stresses that no company active in the diamond industry has, despite OECD guidelines, recognized the occupied Palestinian territories as a “high-risk and conflict-affected area.” These guidelines require companies to suspend relations with suppliers linked to war crimes or genocide.

Raw diamonds are sent from Africa to the occupied territories, and the revenues generated are directly injected into Israel’s fascist and apartheid project in Palestine.

These revelations come as human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused the Israeli regime of committing genocide.

Diamond buyers around the world—from luxury jewelry stores to online marketplaces—are unknowingly part of this cycle. Boycott campaigns are now focusing on the diamond industry and are calling for immediate sanctions.

Experts predict that as public awareness grows, Israel’s diamond market—which accounts for more than 10 percent of the regime’s total exports—will face a serious crisis.

Middle East Monitor raises this critical question: Will the world allow shining diamonds to conceal dark crimes? The time to act has arrived.