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Elbit Systems and the UK: Why this contract should concern every one of us

The UK government has awarded a major new contract to Elbit Systems — an Israeli arms manufacturer whose weapons have been repeatedly linked to war crimes. For anyone concerned about how our taxes are used, this is not just another defence contract. It’s a red line. And it's being crossed with our money.

Elbit Systems is Israel’s largest arms company. It produces drones, targeting systems, and munitions that have been used in repeated attacks on civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Human rights groups and UN experts have long raised the alarm: these are not abstract claims. They are weapons built for — and deployed in — occupations, sieges, and wars of aggression.

And now, Elbit has been handed more UK taxpayer money.

The contract, reportedly worth hundreds of millions, was issued despite Elbit’s track record. This includes their Hermes 450 drones, deployed in assaults on Gaza, and other equipment known to be used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in illegal operations under international law. As recently as 2023, Elbit was supplying components to weapons systems used during bombardments that killed thousands of civilians, including women and children, and destroyed entire neighbourhoods.

This is the company our government has chosen to reward. With our money. In our name.

Under international law, it is a criminal offence to aid or abet war crimes. This includes funding — directly or indirectly — the weapons used to commit them. By continuing to issue contracts to Elbit Systems, the UK government is not just turning a blind eye. It is actively complicit.

This matters to No Tax for War

No Tax for War exists to challenge the way our taxes are used to fund war, genocide, and crimes against humanity. This contract represents exactly what we are fighting against: the use of public funds to prop up companies with a record of complicity in mass violence.

If you pay tax in the UK — via PAYE, self-assessment, council tax, or other means — you are part of the system that enables this. You are being made complicit, whether you consent or not.

But there is a lawful, peaceful way to say no.

We use Taxation Trusts 💡 to lawfully withhold tax that would otherwise fund these contracts. It’s not about evasion or avoidance — it’s about accountability, transparency, and conscience. It’s about refusing to let your money be used to support companies like Elbit, and the wars they profit from.

Why we must act now

This is not hypothetical. Elbit’s weapons are in use right now. Children in Gaza are dying under their drones. UK tax money is part of that chain. The new contract makes every UK taxpayer even more complicit unless we act.

The UK government cannot be allowed to do this in silence. This contract must be a wake-up call. It’s time to take peaceful action — to stand up, speak out, and stop paying for genocide.

If you want to learn more about how to withhold tax lawfully, and why trusts are our legal line of defence, visit our How Tax Trusts Work page or head to Take Action.

Don’t let your money be their weapon.

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Definition: Fiduciary

A fiduciary is person or organisation in a position of trust who has a legal duty to act in good faith and in the best interests of another party, such as a trustee for beneficiaries of a trust.

Placing your home in a separate trust

Creating a distinct legal trust specifically for your primary residence. This ensures that your home is no longer legally “owned” by you as an individual, but held in trust for your benefit. Doing so may offer protection against enforcement action by councils or creditors, especially if you are challenging council tax or other state demands. It is a precautionary step to reduce the risk of property seizure or legal intimidation. Legal advice is recommended before proceeding.

Definition: Trusts

A trust is a legal tool that ring-fences your money until certain conditions are met. The Make War History Taxation Trust is a conditional, revocable trust to withhold tax until it’s proven it won’t be used unlawfully — for example, to fund war. 

Definition: Promissory Note

A Promissory Note is a legally binding promise to pay — but only once the trust’s conditions are met. It shows you’re not refusing to pay tax outright, just demanding it be used lawfully. This adds weight to your position and ensures the legal system recognises your intent.