We, the undersigned, demand North Dakota and its public universities end their relationship with Elbit Systems of America, subsidiary of Israeli drone company Elbit Systems.
The first documented instance of Elbit Systems drone usage in North Dakota was in 2016, when they tested their Hermes 450 drone outside of Hillsboro, North Dakota, in collaboration with North Dakota State University. The project cost upwards of $700,000, half of which was funded by the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, while the other half was funded by Elbit Systems.Though the drone technology was tested on farmland in North Dakota, that technology is now used for surveillance abroad, including the Gaza Strip.
Beyond surveillance, the Hermes 450 drone is also capable of carrying up to 4 anti-tank guided missiles. This drone model has likely been used to commit multiple atrocities in Gaza. In April 2024, a Hermes 450 drone struck a World Central Aid Kitchen convoy thrice. The strikes killed 7 aid workers, and the murder of aid workers is a war crime. Even after this attack on noncombatants, Elbit Systems continues to lease hangar space at the Casselton Airport in Casselton, North Dakota.
We, the undersigned, acknowledge that ending North Dakota’s relationship with weapons contractors is a lofty goal, but we hope you will consider ending the state's relationship with this particular contractor: Elbit. We hope to invest instead in agriculture technology being created by domestic, American companies not involved in weapons manufacturing.