158 International and Israeli Companies Operate in West Bank Settlements
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has revealed that more than 150 international and Israeli companies conduct business activities in illegal settlements located in the occupied West Bank-an action considered a violation of international law.
According to a report covered by Reuters and published by webangah News Agency, the updated database now includes 158 companies. Since June 2023, 68 new firms have been added, while 7 companies were removed after ceasing operations in these settlements. Notable names on the list include Airbnb,Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor. In addition to these service platform giants, dozens of other firms operate in construction, real estate, mining, and stone quarrying sectors-industries that play a central role in expanding Israeli settlements.
The report notes that although most newly listed companies are headquartered within the occupied territories themselves, several originate from countries such as the United States, Canada, China, France, and Germany. The UN high commissioner emphasized that companies involved or complicit in human rights violations must address these impacts responsibly through remediation or corrective processes.
This list is not final; over 300 additional companies remain under review, pending decisions on inclusion or removal. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated: “This report reiterates corporate duty in conflict zones to ensure their activities do not contribute to human rights abuses.”
