The United Nations has released an updated report exposing 158 companies involved in activities linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Published on Friday by the UN human rights office, the findings highlight the growing concern over corporate complicity in violations of international law.
The list includes well-known global travel platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor. While most of the companies are Israeli, the report also names multinationals registered in the United States, Canada, China, France, and Germany.
The UN stressed that businesses must not fuel or profit from human rights violations.
“Where business enterprises identify that they have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts, they should provide for or cooperate in remediation through appropriate processes,” the report noted.
Expansion of the Database
The updated database added 68 new firms since June 2023, while removing seven others, including the UK-based online travel company Opodo and Spanish agency eDreams.
Most of the listed firms operate in construction, real estate, mining, and quarrying, sectors directly tied to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. The report also states that over 300 additional businesses remain under review.
Corporate Responsibility in Conflict Zones
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk underscored that companies must take their role seriously in conflict situations.
“This report underscores the due diligence responsibility of businesses working in contexts of conflict to ensure their activities do not contribute to human rights abuses,” Türk said.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has already declared illegal Israeli settlements unlawful under international law. The UN’s latest report increases international pressure on companies to reassess their operations and avoid sustaining activities tied to these settlements.
