UN Report Lists 158 Companies Linked to Israeli Settlements

UN Report Names 158 Companies Linked to Israeli Settlements

Geneva, 26 September 2025 — The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has released a detailed report revealing that 158 companies maintain business ties with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The report highlights activities spanning construction, tourism, real estate, mineral extraction, telecommunications, and security—sectors accused of sustaining settlements considered illegal under international law.

According to the UN, these companies provide goods and services that directly or indirectly support settlement expansion, potentially violating international law, including provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The document underscores that such operations undermine Palestinian rights and contribute to the ongoing conflict.

Among the most prominent international firms cited are Airbnb, Booking.com (Booking Holdings), Expedia Group, and TripAdvisor, all of which list or promote rental properties and tourist activities inside settlements. Technology and infrastructure providers are also named, including Motorola Solutions, noted for supplying security and communications equipment, and German building-materials giant Heidelberg Materials/Hanson Israel, which provides raw materials used in settlement construction. Engineering and transport firms Steconfer of Portugal and Ineco of Spain appear on the list for their roles in settlement infrastructure projects.

Several companies have responded. Heidelberg Materials stated it does not operate in occupied territories and has requested clarification from the UN, while others indicated they are reviewing their operations to ensure compliance with human-rights standards.

Human-rights advocates say the report increases pressure on investors and governments to reconsider partnerships with firms profiting from occupied land. Legal analysts note that doing business in settlements may expose companies to reputational damage and potential legal risks as international scrutiny grows.

This latest UN disclosure aims to promote transparency and accountability, sending a clear message: engaging in commercial activities that sustain illegal settlements is both ethically indefensible and fraught with legal and financial danger.