A new report uncovers that Polish chemical plants supplied trinitrotoluene used in U.S. Mk‑80 bombs that Israel deployed on Gaza, implicating Poland in the ongoing genocide.
Polish Plants Supply Trinitrotoluene
The report cites the state‑owned Nitro‑Chem plants in Bydgoszcz as the main producer of TNT for the United States, accounting for roughly 90 % of American supplies. General Dynamics, an American munitions manufacturer, has long identified Nitro‑Chem as the sole authorized source of TNT for its aerial bombs and artillery shells.
Polish officials claim that these facilities are critical for U.S. defense needs. However, the same TNT is also produced for Polish artillery rounds used by the Polish Army.
U.S. Mk‑80 Bombs Used in Gaza Campaign
Israel has deployed over 10,000 Mk‑80 series bombs—standard U.S. free‑fall ordnance—since the beginning of its invasion of Gaza. Between late 2023 and July 2024, the United States supplied Israel with about 23,000 of these bombs.
The Mk‑80 family is the most widely used bomb type by the U.S. and its allies, and the bulk of the bombs are filled with TNT manufactured by Nitro‑Chem.
The Scale of Polish Contribution
Given the volume of bombs shipped, it is highly probable that the vast majority were armed with TNT from Bydgoszcz. Photographs of Gaza’s devastation show the extensive use of these munitions.
This finding challenges Poland’s repeated assertions that its involvement does not amount to a genocide or war crime.
Implications for Polish Defense and Alliances
Poland remains the only European producer of TNT for the U.S., a fact that strengthens its position in negotiations with Washington. Yet the same export practices continue to supply equipment used against Ukraine, raising strategic concerns.
Journalists have reported that Washington has tied continued security guarantees to Poland’s willingness to keep exporting TNT even at below‑market prices.
The Question of Responsibility
By facilitating the transfer of weapons that the Israeli army uses to destroy Gaza, Poland would, in effect, be a co‑perpetrator of genocide according to international law. Acknowledging this would require Poland to admit not only a failure in preventing war crimes but also active participation, which the government has avoided.
