Title: MIT Stumbles Upon Unwanted Exposure: Activists Unveil School's Israel Military Links via Leaked Database
A group of activists recently delved into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) grant database, revealing ties between the university and Israeli military programs. Consequently, MIT shut down the database. The MIT Coalition for Palestine published a booklet titled "MIT Science for Genocide," detailing the institution's links to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The booklet hints at $3.7 million in Israeli investments funding various defense projects, such as underwater surveillance, missile detection, and drone algorithms. These partnerships also included connections to Israel's defense contractors, including a major drone manufacturer.
As the activists persisted in probing MIT's Israel-linked grant activity using the open-access software, the school deactivated the program. A Coalition member and MIT graduate student named Rich Solomon informed The Intercept that the university launched a propaganda campaign to suppress this information.
The Intercept reached out to MIT spokesperson Sarah McDonnell, who stated, "We respect diverse viewpoints and do not comment on individually held and freely expressed views of students or alumni." McDonnell added that MIT is committed to promoting student well-being, protecting free speech, and addressing policy violations.
Over 40,000 Palestinians have allegedly perished during Israel's assault on Gaza. Most of the casualties were women and children, with some estimates suggesting a death toll much higher. A study by The Lancet even suggests the toll could surpass 100,000 due to hospital and housing destruction, leading to potential disease, starvation, and exposure-related deaths.
Shocking incidents have continued to emerge from the conflict, including the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) running a Telegram channel filled with images and videos of dead Palestinians, whom they referred to as "roaches." A doctor working in Gaza admitted to holding a dead baby's brains for the first time. Reports of indiscriminate killing of civilians by Israeli forces have also surfaced, albeit skeptically received in some circles.
Israel currently faces accusations of genocide and is on trial for Geneva Convention violations at the Hague, having received a steady flow of weapons and funding from the U.S. Over 128 journalists have reportedly been killed by Israel during the past year, surpassing the total number of journalists killed by any country in the past 100 years.
The activists' investigation into MIT's funding relationships revealed ties between the tech giant and Israeli military technology projects. Looking towards the future, the tech industry must consider its role in promoting peace and avoiding involvement in controversial projects.
