UN list of companies involved in West Bank settlements grows by a third

The United Nations has reported a 33% increase in the number of companies engaging with settlements in the occupied West Bank, with travel and materials suppliers forming a significant portion of the group. The UN Office for Human Rights, which has maintained the list since 2020, has now added 61 new entities, bringing the total to 214 firms from 11 countries.

Notable among the additions are well-known travel brands like Airbnb and Expedia, as well as construction firms JC Bamford Excavators and Greenkote PLC from the UK. Dutch travel portal Booking.com, along with French engineering firms Egis and Egis Rail, have also been added to the list. This update comes amid heightened violence against Palestinians in the territory and the expansion of illegal settlements by a far-right government.

European nations, including the UK, France, and the Netherlands, have previously warned companies operating in settlement tenders that they may face sanctions, though full sanctions status remains uncertain for most. Companies that were once on the list, such as UK-based Opodo and Spanish-listed eDreams, have since removed themselves due to a lack of involvement in the listed activities.

The UN calls on companies to uphold their responsibility to respect human rights, urging them to conduct due diligence to avoid involvement in human rights violations.