A new United Nations report revealed that 158 companies, including global names such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, are operating in Israeli settlements located in the occupied West Bank. These settlements are deemed illegal under international law by the UN, though Israel continues to dispute this interpretation. The updated list includes 68 new additions since 2023, highlighting growing concerns about business involvement in disputed territories and the human rights implications that come with it.
Several newly added companies are headquartered in Israel, but the list also includes international firms from the United States, Germany, Canada, China, and France. One notable inclusion is German cement giant Heidelberg Materials AG, which argued it should not be listed as it claims to no longer operate in Palestinian territories. Meanwhile, seven companies were removed from the database after evidence suggested they were no longer engaged in settlement-related activities that raised human rights concerns.
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Israel strongly rejected the report, calling it a “blacklist” that unfairly targets legitimate businesses. Officials argue there is no general prohibition in international law against conducting business in conflict zones, and the settlements are part of disputed land, not occupied territory. This stance directly challenges the 2024 ruling of the UN’s highest court, which confirmed that West Bank settlements violate international law, a decision backed by much of the global community.
The UN Human Rights Office stated that businesses linked to these settlements should address the harms they may have caused or contributed to, and cooperate in remediation processes. UN rights chief Volker Türk emphasized that companies operating in conflict settings bear heightened responsibility to ensure they do not contribute to abuses. Civil society groups welcomed the database as a vital tool to increase transparency and push corporations to reassess their involvement in disputed regions.
The report comes as Israel faces mounting scrutiny for its actions in Gaza and the West Bank, where increased raids and settlement expansion have further strained the situation. A UN Commission of Inquiry recently concluded that Israeli policies since October 2023 show clear intent to expand settlements, displace Palestinians, and annex the West Bank entirely. Israel dismissed the findings as politically motivated, while international pressure continues to grow against activities that undermine prospects for a future Palestinian state.
With the settlements expanding since the 1967 war, this updated UN database underscores the deepening divide between international legal standards and Israel’s policies. It also highlights the global businesses caught in the middle, raising questions about corporate responsibility, accountability, and the need for stronger safeguards against contributing to human rights violations.