A Guardian investigation reveals that UK-linked arms manufacturer MBDA profits from components used in GBU-39 bombs deployed by Israel in Gaza, contributing to attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians, including children.

Israel’s blockade of Gaza has created a deliberate humanitarian catastrophe, with half a million people facing starvation, children dying from malnutrition, and aid agencies warning that this policy amounts to the use of famine as a weapon of war.

Amid rising tensions following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, India and Pakistan have exchanged air strikes and artillery fire, resulting in dozens of civilian deaths and mass displacement. AOAV joins others calling for immediate de-escalation, transparency, and the protection of civilians from explosive weapons in populated areas.

An incident involving the apparent execution-style killing of 15 Palestinian paramedics and humanitarian workers in southern Gaza by Israeli forces has prompted widespread international condemnation and calls for accountability. Forensic evidence and witness accounts strongly challenge Israel’s initial justification for the attack and raise serious questions of potential war crimes.

Over the past 72 hours, over 1,600 Israeli strikes across Lebanon have killed at least 558 civilians, including children and women, prompting Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) to call for an independent investigation into violations of international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the use of indiscriminate violence in populated areas.

The sell-off is part of a larger series of share sales by Charles Woodburn so far this year amounting to over £10.9 million

The United Nations has revised down the percentage of women and children among the reported fatalities in Gaza, leading to controversy over the accuracy and sources of the casualty figures.

A Prerequisite for understanding impact, informing change and implementing the Political Declaration

In an interview with AOAV, Dr. Johanna Rodehau-Noack, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University, discusses her research on international conflict prevention, the role of fatality counts in shaping such efforts, and the ethical and practical limitations of relying solely on quantifiable metrics to define and address armed conflicts.

Since 2011, our data has shown the devastating discrepancy between the Security Council’s mission – namely, the protection of civilians and prevention of armed conflict – and the ways in which Russia has projected its military power abroad. 

This report examines the UK arms export to Yemen 2012-2022

Last week, more than 80 countries endorsed a new international commitment to address one of the greatest threats to civilians during armed conflict: the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.