DaysofPal- More than 80 international non-governmental organizations have called on states and corporations to halt all commercial dealings with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, describing them as illegal under international law.
In a joint report titled “Trade with Illegal Settlements: How Foreign States and Companies Enable Israel to Implement Its Unlawful Settlement Policy,” the organizations, including the Human Rights League and Oxfam, argued that continued business activity with the settlements contributes directly to the humanitarian crisis caused by the prolonged Israeli occupation.
The report singled out several multinational companies and financial institutions.
French retail giant Carrefour was criticized for supporting the settlement economy through its partnerships that allow products from settlements to be sold in its stores.
British manufacturer JCB was accused of supplying equipment used to demolish Palestinian homes, destroy crops, and expand settlements.
The report also named Barclays Bank in the United Kingdom for financing commercial activities in settlements, while German conglomerate Siemens was accused of providing transport infrastructure that benefits settlements.
The coalition urged governments, particularly in the European Union and the United Kingdom, to explicitly ban trade and investment with settlements, including financial services.
It also called on banks and financial institutions to stop granting loans to companies involved in settlement projects.
The findings echo a July report presented to the UN Human Rights Council by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Titled “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide,” Albanese’s report detailed how global corporations contribute to Israel’s settlement expansion and the displacement of Palestinians.
According to her findings, settlement growth is financed by banks and insurance companies while being normalized by tourism platforms, retail chains, and academic institutions.
The latest appeal comes amid heightened international scrutiny, as the Israeli occupation continues its military campaign in Gaza alongside intensified settlement expansion in the West Bank, reinforcing de facto annexation of occupied land.
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