- Global suppliers continue fueling Israel's military despite ICJ genocide warnings.
- A new report exposes a massive international oil supply network for Israel.
- Key suppliers include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia for crude and refined products.
- The U.S. is the exclusive provider of specialized military jet fuel.
- Legal experts warn these nations risk complicity in genocide under international law.
A damning new report has exposed the global supply chain that kept Israel fueled during its two-year military offensive in Gaza, implicating two dozen nations in a network that legal experts warn may constitute complicity in genocide. Released by the advocacy group Oil Change International, the analysis titled "Behind the Barrel" tracks 323 oil shipments totaling 21.2 million tonnes from 25 countries to Israel between November 2023 and October 2025.
The report identifies Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan as the dominant suppliers, providing 70 percent of Israel's crude oil. This crude travels through complex routes: Azeri oil moves through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to Turkey before being shipped to Israel, while Kazakh crude is exported via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to Russia's Black Sea coast for onward shipment. Although these nations appear as the origins, the infrastructure involves multiple countries in the transportation process.
Russia emerges as another key player, supplying 45 percent of refined petroleum products shipped to Israel. This relationship persists despite international tensions, with Russian energy major Lukoil maintaining a significant stake in the pipeline consortium facilitating these shipments. The data illustrates how global energy partnerships often transcend geopolitical conflicts when economic interests align.
Perhaps most notably, the United States stands alone as the exclusive supplier of JP-8 jet fuel, a specialized blend for military aircraft. The report documents nine shipments carrying 360,000 tonnes of this fuel from Valero's Bill Greehey Refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, along with two diesel shipments from the same facility. This direct military support continued even as the International Court of Justice issued rulings concerning Israel's operations.
The research uncovered creative rerouting when direct supplies faced scrutiny. Brazilian crude shipments to Israel appeared to halt in 2025, but investigators found the oil was simply redirected to Italian refineries, particularly the Sarroch refinery in Sardinia, where it was processed into petroleum products before being exported to Israel. This shell game demonstrates how supply chains adapt to maintain material support despite public pressure.
The legal ramifications
Legal experts are questioning whether these continued fuel exports violate international law. Dr. Irene Pietropaoli, who published a legal opinion on third-state obligations regarding Gaza, stated that in light of the ICJ's interim order, states "must consider that their military or other assistance to Israel's military operations in Gaza may put them at a risk of being complicit in genocide under the Genocide Convention."
The United Nations has reinforced these concerns. In September, the UN's Independent International Commission called on member states to "cease the transfer of arms and other equipment or items, including jet fuel, to the State of Israel or third States where there is reason to suspect their use in military operations that have involved or could involve the commission of genocide."
Shady Khalil of Oil Change International emphasized the legal implications upon releasing the report. "States risk becoming complicit in genocide under international law, under the Genocide Convention," Khalil stated, adding that the report "reveals the deadly links between fossil fuel suppliers and international conflict" as world leaders convene at climate negotiations.
The civilian-military divide
When questioned about distinguishing between civilian and military fuel use, campaigners with the Global Energy Embargo for Palestine noted that Israel's energy system serves both civilian populations and military operations in occupied territories. This integration makes it difficult to separate how specific fuel shipments are ultimately utilized, complicating claims that exports only support civilian needs.
The report arrives as multiple international bodies have issued strong condemnations. A UN Commission has concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza, while the International Court of Justice has ruled Israel's continued presence in occupied Palestinian territory unlawful. These findings create a legal context that places fuel-supplying nations in an increasingly precarious position.
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