Activists at MIT announced on Saturday that the university has officially terminated its Lockheed Martin Seed Fund, following protests that began on October 7 in response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza. The protests, which targeted the collaboration between MIT and the defense giant, were fueled by concerns over Lockheed Martin’s sales of military equipment to Israel.
“As of today, and due to pressure from students and scientists at MIT, the university has discontinued the Lockheed Martin Seed Fund and does not plan to renew it,” the activists said in a statement.
The group criticized Lockheed Martin for supplying Israel with billions of dollars in weapons, including Hellfire missiles, warplanes, and heavy artillery. They argued these arms were used to target schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.
Campaigners highlighted the destruction of Palestinian society in Gaza, accusing Israel of using Lockheed Martin’s weapons to attack civilians and expel millions. They also condemned the company for enabling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which they described as “far-right” and “fanatical,” to establish detention facilities and impose apartheid in the occupied West Bank.
The activists vowed to continue their efforts until MIT also ends other collaborations with Israeli defense companies, including Elbit Systems, and its partnerships with companies like Danish shipping giant Maersk, which transports weapons for Israel's military.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, which has claimed the lives of over 41,000 people, pro-Palestinian activists have intensified their calls for governments, companies, and universities to cut ties with Israel. In response, pro-Israel governments, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, have cracked down on protests, arresting activists and dismantling protest camps on university campuses, accusing demonstrators of “anti-Semitism” and “terrorism.”