Facebook has been hosting paid adverts for charities fundraising for Israeli army battalions accused of war crimes and lawmakers encouraging the resettlement of the Gaza Strip.
Eko, a US-based campaigning organisation, identified 98 Facebook adverts targeting Europe and the US to solicit funds for Israeli army equipment, including advanced thermal drones, assault rifle sights, armour, night vision goggles and helmets.
“The most concerning issue with these fundraising appeals is their focus on drones potentially used in the ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon,” Eko said in its report.
“Many of the drones… are reportedly modified by the Israeli army to carry explosives.”
One advert showed a soldier called Kobi, who is identified as a “lead machine gunner” for the 551 Commando Brigade, making an appeal for night vision goggles in front of a destroyed mosque.
