The new report by Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, was delivered to the Human Rights Council on Thursday. It says Israel’s 21-month campaign in Gaza has become “lucrative for many” and calls for governments and courts to prosecute corporate executives who facilitate it.
Albanese, an Italian legal scholar in the post since 2022, says evidence of genocide is already “overwhelming”, citing the death of nearly 60,000 Palestinians, the razing of 80% of homes and severe shortages of water, food and medicine. Israel’s offensive began after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in October 2023, the report notes.
Companies singled out
- Palantir – The US data-analytics firm is criticized for a strategic partnership with the Israel Defense Forces. Palantir denies links to the IDF’s Lavender or Gospel targeting systems but says it supports Israeli security missions.
- Lockheed Martin – Israel’s military is benefiting from the “largest ever” F-35 procurement, the report says, noting the jet’s “beast mode” payload of 18,000 lb of bombs.
- Caterpillar and Volvo – Allegedly supply bulldozers and excavators used to demolish homes and infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank. Volvo says much equipment was bought second-hand; Caterpillar did not comment.
- Banks and investors – BNP Paribas, Barclays, Pimco, Vanguard and others are cited for underwriting or buying Israeli treasury bonds that help finance the war. Norway’s $1.6 trillion sovereign wealth fund increased stakes in Israeli firms by 32% after October 2023, according to the report.
“These firms have profited from Israel’s economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and, now, genocide,” Albanese writes, warning that “passive suppliers become deliberate contributors to a system of displacement”.
Legal remedies urged
The rapporteur urges:
- Sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.
- Investigations by the International Criminal Court and national courts into corporate complicity in war crimes.
- Accountability modeled on the IG Farben trials of industrial firms after World War Two and business hearings during South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Reactions
Israel dismissed the document as “groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of office”, reiterating it is acting in self-defense and denying genocide.
Washington accused Albanese of waging “political and economic warfare” against U.S. companies.
African, Asian and Arab states largely backed her recommendations; several European delegations condemned Israel’s obstruction of aid and reminded it of its duty to protect civilians under occupation.
Background
The International Court of Justice is already examining genocide allegations against Israel and has ordered provisional measures to protect Palestinians.
Albanese says there is no need to wait for a final ruling: “You don’t need a scientist to establish genocide – you just connect the dots”, she was cited as saying by the Guardian.
The report, titled “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide”, concludes that ending corporate involvement is essential to halting the conflict.
“Israel’s genocide continues because it is profitable for too many”, Albanese said.
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Source: The Guardian, BBC, The United Nations Human Rights Council