According to the Lancet Report, by mid-2024 Israel had murdered up to approximately 186,000 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023.[1] The genocide has continued unimpeded. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared a Level 5 famine for over half a million of the population of Gaza.[2] Healthcare workers[3] and journalists[4] are being systematically targeted by the IOF, and the flow of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza is being impeded and controlled by Israel.[5]
In the midst of these staggering conditions, Rakon Ltd is a supplier of crystal oscillators, a key component used in US-made ‘smart bombs’ being unleashed by Israel on Palestine in their latest escalation of genocide in Gaza.[6] Crystal oscillators are used in Joint Defense Attack Munitions (JDAM) ‘smart bombs’, which is a guided weapon kit that turns unguided munitions into ‘smart’ GPS-guided munitions. In addition, Rakon has previously also supplied key components to Rockwell Automation, a company that supplies technology to the US military.[7]
Rakon’s complicity in the global war machine is not new, and has been the focus of protest over the past 20 years, with Rakon having been involved in manufacturing key elements in the war machine across the world. From US-led wars in Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan (2002) and Iraq (2003), to the Israeli-led wars in Lebanon and Gaza dating back to 2006.[8] Rakon has undeniable links to the global war machine and has also recently refused to rule out the use of their components to commit genocide in Palestine.[9] Instead, over the years the company has proudly shared their goals to dominate the “lucrative and expanded guided munitions and military positioning market”.[10]
It is situated in this context that on Thursday 21 August, Syd was arrested by police for allegedly breaking into the Auckland office of Rakon. Syd allegedly broke in to cause financial damage and disrupt the company’s operational capacity, due to Rakon’s complicity in the genocide in Palestine, with this alleged break-in following a legacy of protest against the imperial war machine. Their first hearing is at the Manukau District Court on 27 August 2025.
We call on all who want an end to Rakon’s complicity in this genocide to:
- Demand that the government imposes sanctions on Rakon for its supply of key weapon components, used in Israel’s genocide of Gaza and Palestine, so that it is properly aligned with New Zealand’s international obligations to the UN Convention on the Prevention of Genocide.
- Express support and solidarity to Syd and any other activists taking action against genocide, including direct action.
- From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free! End Aotearoa’s complicity in this global war machine!
Palestine Student Action Committee UoA
[1] Rasha Khatib, Martin McKee, and Salim Yusuf, “Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential”, The Lancet 404, no. 10449 (2024): 237-238. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01169-3/fulltext
[2] Famine Review Committee, “Famine Review Committee: Gaza Strip, August 2025: Conclusions and Recommendations”, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 22 August 2025, https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Famine_Review_Committee_Report_Gaza_Aug2025.pdf
[3] UN News, “‘Hospitals have become battlegrounds’: Gaza’s health system on brink of collapse”, UN News, January 3, 2025. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1158741
[4] Justin Salhani, “Israel is deliberately targetting journalists in Gaza: Experts”, Al Jazeera, September 23, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/23/israel-is-deliberately-targeting-journalists-in-gaza-experts
[5] Al Jazeera, “More than 100 groups blast Israel’s ‘weaponisation of aid’ as Gaza starves”, Al Jazeera, August 14, 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/14/more-than-100-groups-blast-israels-weaponisation-of-aid-as-gaza-starves
[6] Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa, “Government Called To Suspend Rakon Exports Used In Gaza Genocide”, Scoop May 26, 2024. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO2405/S00320/government-called-to-suspend-rakon-exports-used-in-gaza-genocide.htm
[7] Owen Hembry and Richard Inder, “Rockwell hails quality of Rakon work”, The New Zealand Herald, June 2, 2006. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/airlines/rockwell-hails-quality-of-rakon-work/VK6QGAE2QG5Z6BJO64X27QHF7I/
[8] Phil Taylor, “Revealed: Hidden story of NZ export star Rakon”, The New Zealand Herald, May 27, 2006. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/agribusiness/revealed-hidden-story-of-nz-export-star-rakon/5TLNCYSVI5XIGW27Q6L2WRUU5Y/
[9] Stuff, “New Zealand company Rakon refuses to rule out products being incorporated into weapons used by Israel”, May 28, 2024. https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350460494/new-zealand-company-rakon-refuses-to-rule-out-products-being-incorporated-into-weapons-used-by-israel
[10] Phil Taylor, “Revealed: Hidden story of NZ export star Rakon”, The New Zealand Herald, May 27, 2006. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/agribusiness/revealed-hidden-story-of-nz-export-star-rakon/5TLNCYSVI5XIGW27Q6L2WRUU5Y/
It just doesn’t surprise me at all. It certainly is repugnant in every way but it will continue to happen. I am not for Hamas but the ongoing genocide from Israel against Palestinians is atrocious and the world needs to help stop it. I don’t believe for a minute that the Israeli’s don’t know what’s happening. Netanyahu is the 2nd Hitler.
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