Human Rights Concerns Rise Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict

Human rights concerns have escalated amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, highlighted by the recent decision of the Human Rights Campaign, or HRC, to cease accepting sponsorships from Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

This announcement follows substantial pressure from LGBTQ+ activists and pro-Palestinian groups, who accused HRC of engaging in pinkwashing, a term that refers to leveraging LGBTQ+ rights to distract from the serious human rights violations faced by Palestinians.

The Gender Liberation Movement and Adalah Justice Project released a statement expressing that organizations like HRC must prioritize the well-being of marginalized communities over their connections to powerful entities.

They emphasized that true freedom, equality, and justice for queer and trans individuals can only be achieved by confronting the systems that perpetuate harm across the globe. The decision to cut ties with these arms manufacturers comes in the wake of increased scrutiny over their role in the violence in Gaza, particularly after Israel intensified its military actions following the events of October 7, 2023.

Reports indicate that stock prices for these companies surged as Israel ramped up its assaults. Critics, including prominent LGBTQ+ celebrities, have publicly condemned HRC’s previous financial relationships with these arms manufacturers.

At a protest in February 2024, actor Indya Moore highlighted the incongruity of accepting funds from companies whose weapons are contributing to the deaths of Palestinians, including those who are queer and trans.

Furthermore, during her acceptance speech for HRC's Visibility Award in March 2025, actress Hannah Einbinder condemned the silence surrounding the Palestinian struggle and called out oil companies for their complicity in the ongoing crisis.

HRC acknowledged that it no longer accepts funds from Raytheon and Northrop Grumman but did not clarify when the sponsorships ended. Their statement framed this change as consistent with HRC’s longstanding commitment against extremism and emphasized the interconnectedness of various forms of hate, including anti-LGBTQ hatred and antisemitism.

However, advocates from the Gender Liberation Movement and Adalah asserted that HRC has not committed to permanently rejecting funds from all weapons manufacturers nor have they called for an arms embargo on Israel.

Their statement concluded with a commitment to continue advocating for the rights of all marginalized communities, affirming that their work is far from finished.