GENEVA, July 1 (Reuters) – A U.N. skilled has named over 60 corporations, together with main arms producers and know-how companies, in a report alleging their involvement in supporting Israeli settlements and army actions in Gaza, which she known as a “genocidal marketing campaign.”
Italian human rights lawyer Francesca Albanese, U.N. Particular Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, compiled the report based mostly on over 200 submissions from states, human rights defenders, corporations, and lecturers.
The report, printed late Monday, requires corporations to stop dealings with Israel and for authorized accountability for executives implicated in alleged violations of worldwide regulation.
“Whereas life in Gaza is being obliterated and the West Financial institution is underneath escalating assault, this report exhibits why Israel’s genocide continues: as a result of it’s profitable for a lot of,” Albanese wrote within the 27-page doc. She accused company entities of being “financially certain to Israel’s apartheid and militarism.”
Alejandro Martinez Velez/Europa Press Information through Getty Pictures
Israel’s mission in Geneva mentioned the report was “legally groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of her workplace”. The Israeli prime minister’s workplace and the international workplace didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
The U.S. mission to the United Nations in New York known as on U.N. Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres to sentence Albanese and name for her elimination, including that “the shortage of such motion up to now has enabled Ms. Albanese to pursue her marketing campaign of financial warfare concentrating on entities internationally.”
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, citing its proper to self-defense following the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault that killed 1,200 folks and resulted in 251 hostages, in line with Israeli figures.
The next war in Gaza has killed greater than 56,000 folks, in line with the Gaza Well being Ministry, and lowered the enclave to rubble.
Arms Companies Named In Report
The report teams the businesses by sector, for instance army or know-how, and doesn’t at all times clarify if they’re linked to settlements or the Gaza marketing campaign. It mentioned round 15 corporations responded on to Albanese’s workplace however didn’t publish their replies.
It names arms companies similar to Lockheed Martin LMT.N and Leonardo LDOF.MI, alleging their weaponry has been utilized in Gaza. It additionally lists heavy equipment suppliers Caterpillar Inc CAT.N and HD Hyundai 267250.KS, claiming their gear has contributed to property destruction in Palestinian territories.
“Overseas army gross sales are government-to-government transactions. Discussions about these gross sales are greatest addressed by the U.S. authorities,” mentioned a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin.
Not one of the different corporations instantly responded to Reuters’ requests for remark. Caterpillar has beforehand said it expects its merchandise for use in step with worldwide humanitarian regulation.
Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures
Know-how giants Alphabet GOOGL.O, Amazon AMZN.O, Microsoft MSFT.O, and IBM IBM.N have been named as “central to Israel’s surveillance equipment and the continuing Gaza destruction.”
Alphabet has beforehand defended its $1.2 billion cloud companies contract with the Israeli authorities, stating it’s not directed at army or intelligence operations.
Palantir Applied sciences PLTR.O was additionally talked about for offering AI instruments to the Israeli army, although specifics on their use weren’t included.
The report expands on a earlier U.N. database of companies linked to Israeli settlements, final up to date in June 2023, including new corporations and detailing alleged ties to the continuing Gaza battle.
It will likely be offered to the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday. Though the Council lacks legally binding powers, circumstances documented by U.N. investigations have often knowledgeable worldwide prosecutions.
Israel and the United States disengaged from the Council earlier this yr, citing bias in opposition to Israel.
(Extra reporting by Rachel Extra in Berlin, Ariane Luthi in Zurich, Michelle Nichols in New York and Olivia Le Poidevin in Geneva)
