The United Nations has expanded its blacklist of companies accused of contributing to human rights violations against Palestinians by operating in Israeli settlements, a move likely to intensify diplomatic tensions.
The UN Human Rights Council announced that 68 companies from 11 countries have been added to the database, raising the total to 158 firms.
The list, first compiled nearly a decade ago, mostly includes Israeli businesses but also names major firms from the United States, Germany, Spain, and other countries.
The newly added firms are largely in construction, real estate, mining, and quarrying, sectors deemed supportive of settlement expansion, which the UN considers illegal under international law.
Notable additions include Germany’s Heidelberg Materials and Spain’s Ineco, while global travel companies Expedia and Airbnb remain listed.
A Diplomatic Flashpoint
The update comes at a politically charged moment, as several European countries have recently recognized a Palestinian state in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
It also coincides with Israeli plans to annex parts of the West Bank and approve new settlement housing.
“The UN urges companies to exercise due diligence and avoid contributing to human rights abuses,” the human rights office said.
Symbolic Pressure, Limited Impact
The blacklist is largely symbolic, carrying no legal enforcement mechanism. Its primary aim is to “name and shame” companies linked to settlement activity.
Analysts say the actual financial impact on those firms is uncertain, but the list serves as a tool to maintain international pressure on Israel amid dwindling prospects for a two-state solution.
Critics argue that while the blacklist may spotlight settlement expansion, it risks further entrenching political divides rather than fostering meaningful change.
