Toyota reviewing use of forklifts by Israeli military after MEE investigation

Toyota has said it is investigating the use of its forklifts by the Israeli military after Middle East Eye found photos and videos of the vehicles at weapons and munitions storage sites, serving supply lines for frontline units, and being used by the army’s Logistics Corps. It comes after MEE uncovered details of a previously unreported 158m-shekel ($49.8m) contract between Toyota and Israel’s Ministry of Defense for the supply of forklifts that was signed in 2024 – the first full year of the Gaza war. Toyota says that its vehicles are not intended for military use. When asked about the contract, the company told MEE it had commitments in place with both the defence ministry and its official reseller in Israel to ensure that its technology and products were “for civil use only”. But when MEE then shared footage posted on official Israeli military social media channels, which showed Toyota forklifts being used at locations including a missiles and ammunition depot in northern Israel, a Logistics Corps training base, and inside a munitions factory, it said it was investigating the images to determine whether those agreements had been breached. Read more: Toyota reviewing use of forklifts by Israeli military after MEE investigation An image of a Toyota forklift at a missiles and ammunition centre in northern Israel, as posted on Israeli military social media accounts on 7 July. (Facebook)