A major air cargo hub on the West Coast has responded to accusations made by pro-Palestinian groups of sending military cargo shipments to Israel and aiding the nation as part of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Palestinian Youth Movement, Arab Resource and Organizing Center, and U.S. Palestinian Community Network published a report in late August “exposing” the cargo shipments being sent from Oakland International Airport to Israel, including FedEx shipments of F-35 Lockheed Martin fighter jet components to Israel’s Nevatim Airbase. They claimed the airport is helping the Israeli Air Force “carry out airstrikes and commit genocide in Gaza.”
The groups allege that since January 2025, at least 280 military cargo shipments to Israel—including F-35 fighter jet components used to carry and release munitions, guide weapons, power surveillance and targeting systems, and support critical flight operations for the Israeli Air Force—have been identified departing from Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK), ultimately reaching Nevatim Airbase as the primary final destination.
The shipments have occurred multiple times per week for nearly the whole year, the groups say, coming to their findings by analyzing export data. They claim that at least 280 shipments of military cargo departed from OAK between Jan. 21 and Aug. 4. OAK, one of the West Coast’s busiest air cargo hubs, annually sees over 1 billion pounds of air cargo passing through its facilities.
“Many of the items shipped to Israel—from bomb racks and weapons bay adapters to sensors and surveillance systems—are the very mechanisms that enable the F-35 to function as a lethal weapon,” the report states. “These components allow the jet to load and release up to 2,000-pound bombs, maintain 360-degree infrared surveillance, and deliver precision strikes guided by advanced cockpit navigation, communications and display units. Without these parts, the F-35 cannot fly its missions, target or fire.”
Military.com reached out to the pro-Palestinian groups for comment.
Legal Precedent
An OAK spokesperson declined to comment to Military.com, instead referring remarks to a statement issued Nov. 21 on behalf of the Board of Port Commissioners.
The statement leads by saying that board members are members of the broader community who “support a lasting ceasefire and condemn any acts of terrorism and genocide in Israel and Gaza, respectively.”
While adding they are “saddened” to hear the claims of such shipments from OAK being “used to cause harm,” they say it’s their legal authority as a hub.
“As is the case with all federally regulated public airports in the nation, OAK is legally required to accommodate federally authorized air traffic, including air cargo arranged by the U.S. government on private air cargo providers as well as passenger airlines that carry cargo in their baggage hold areas,” the statement says in part.
They specifically cited the report posted online by the three pro-Palestinian groups, which shows flight patterns and data detailing the shipment of military jet components by the federal Defense Logistics Agency from a facility in Northern California on air cargo flights from OAK to other U.S. airports such as in Memphis, Tennessee, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Private Cargo and Federal Law
The groups’ report identifies key components shipped abroad, including weapon-mounting structures like the BRU-68 and a weapons bay adapter; an AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) Sensors, part of the sensor system on an F-35; and numerous other electronic components, hardware and modules.
The shipments, per the report, typically arrive at OAK’s FedEx cargo facility between Monday and Friday and are consolidated into outbound freight flights in the other aforementioned U.S. cities before making their way towards Israel.
The flights are identified as civilian-operated cargo planes rather than military aircraft; specifically, FedEx Express flights carrying shipments multiple days each week, with just one week limited to a single shipment day between January and August.
An FAQ shared by OAK with Military.com reiterates its legal obligation to accommodate federally authorized air traffic, whether it’s arranged by the U.S. government or private cargo providers like FedEx or UPS.
“FedEx has a long-term ground lease with the Port of Oakland and is the largest air cargo carrier operating at OAK,” the FAQ states. “All of FedEx’s flight and loading operations are directly carried out by FedEx employees in areas that FedEx exclusively controls and maintains.
“Due to federal laws and FAA regulations that govern all airports in the United States, OAK does not control access over cargo manifests or the shipping activity of its air carriers.”
Passing Legislation
Airport officials have reportedly received numerous inquiries about said report and the claims therein, determining what role the port can play regarding specific items going into transit.
“We’ve researched this issue, met with key stakeholders, and determined that we are strictly bound by federal law regarding our ability to limit or prohibit shipments through the airport,” they added. “The Port of Oakland and its Board of Port Commissioners do not have the legal authority to determine which legally authorized items a carrier can transport nor to where it is destined, due to federal laws and FAA regulations that govern all airports in the United States.”
“We respect the passion and commitment that have prompted the demonstration of support for action on this issue.”
They added: “As it concerns the export of certain military equipment by the federal government, we respect the passion and commitment that have prompted the demonstration of support for action on this issue. We must respectfully direct the focus of this action toward the federal policymakers that ultimately set foreign and defense policy for our nation.”
They pointed specifically to the “Ban the Bombs Act,” formally known as H.R. 3565, co-sponsored in Congress by House Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA).
Port Board officials say they “look forward to the prompt consideration and passage of this bill and any similar federal legislation which could reduce the loss of human life and is committed to working with local leaders and groups on such federal advocacy efforts.”
This story was updated to reflect that Rep. Lateefah Simon co-sponsored but did not introduce legislation.
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