Call for Imperial College London to divest from Lockheed Martin

The Issue

Imperial College London holds shares worth over £3 million and has participated in research with the largest arms company in the world, Lockheed Martin [1]. As directly stated on their website, Lockheed Martin are responsible for "strengthening the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) ground forces" and have supplied them with “radars, rockets, fire control and guidance systems". The collaboration between Lockheed Martin and Israel is “expected to exceed $4 billion” [2].

According to Gaza’s health ministry, the Israeli military has conducted over 1,400 airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since May 10th [3]. The death toll has reached a staggering 248 Palestinians, of which 39 are women and 66 are children, with over 1,900 injured [4].

Amnesty International have stated “Israeli forces have displayed a shocking disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians by carrying out a number of airstrikes targeting residential buildings in some cases killing entire families - including children - and causing wanton destruction to civilian property, in attacks that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity” [5].

Imperial College London is an institution that claims their mission is to "achieve enduring excellence in research and education in science, engineering, medicine and business for the benefit of society". In its Relationship Review Policy, the College states that “Relationships should….. support the College’s mission and strategic aims.” It is further stated that “Relationships should not….require the College to be involved in action that is illegal.” Elsewhere, “Judgement is required to check that the College’s interests are maintained when reviewing a relationship if it has the potential to….. deter others from supporting or working with the College [or] cause any other damage, including financial or reputational, to the College [or] expose the College to potentially significant liability.” [6]

In addition to the accusations of the IDF intentionally bombing civilian homes in Gaza, the IDF have also received widespread condemnation for the targeted bombing of news media buildings - another crime under international law [7]. Previous reports from the United Nations have clearly documented deliberate, indiscriminate attacks by the IDF on civilian populations and buildings in Gaza, amounting to multiple breaches of international law [8]. More recently in 2021, the International Criminal Court launched an investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories [9].

As a longstanding collaborator with the IDF, it is impossible to dissociate Lockheed Martin from these alleged war crimes and breaches of international law. Far from being a benefit to society, they have facilitated the injection of terror, death and destruction into the lives of innocent Palestinians. As such, it is reprehensible and completely unacceptable for Imperial to be financially engaged with a company like Lockheed Martin, whose activities serve as flagrant violations of not only Imperial College’s own relationship review policy, but also of international law and common decency.

This petition is a call for Imperial College London to terminate all deals, divest all stakes, and end all relations with Lockheed Martin.

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