Region
NGOs call to stop trade with Israeli settlements in Palestinian Territories
Non governmental organizations (NGOs) called on countries and companies, particularly European ones, to cease their commercial dealings with illegal settlements run by Israel in occupied Palestinian territories.
More than 80 NGOs, including the Human Rights Association and Oxfam, published a report on the business with illegal settlements: how foreign states and companies enable Israel to carry out its illegal settlement policy, which specifically targets companies and institutions that continue their business activities with illegal settlements, which directly contribute to the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's prolonged occupation.
The report referred to a French retail chain whose business partnerships in Israel directly support the settlement economy by enabling the sale of its products.
It also mentioned a British machinery company that manufactures equipment used to destroy Palestinian homes, damage their crops, and build illegal settlements.
The report accused foreign banks of financing commercial activities in the settlements, and a German company of contributing, according to NGOs, to transportation infrastructure that benefits the settlements.
The campaign organizers urged countries, particularly those in the EU and the UK, to explicitly ban business activities with Israeli settlements, including the provision of services and investments.
The report also called for preventing banks and financial institutions from granting loans to companies that finance projects in the settlements.
This report follows a previous report submitted in July by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories by Francesca Albanese to the UN Human Rights Council.
According to Albanese, the settlements are expanding with funding from banks and insurance companies, and are being normalized by tourism platforms, large retail chains, and academic institutions.
The UN expert noted that consumers have the power to hold these companies accountable.