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- Author, Writing
- Author's title, BBC News World
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The United Nations special rapporteur over the Palestinian territories has urged dozens of multinational companies to stop doing business with Israel.
In his report before the UN Human Rights Council, Francesca Albanese warned companies that they risk being accomplices of war crimes in Gaza and the fed occupied by participating in what he described as “an economy of genocide.”
He alleges that the conflict with Hamas has served as a test field, without accountability or supervision, for new weapons and technology.
Israel has rejected its report, which it considers “unfounded” and which ensures that “it will enter the dump of history.”
The companies indicated
The UN special experts or rapporteurs are independent of the multilateral institution, which designates them to advise on human rights.
Albanese, an international lawyer of Italian origin, had already suggested in previous reports that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
On Thursday he reiterated that statement, accusing the country of “committing one of the most cruel genocides in modern history.”
In his most recent Albanese report he appoints companies to which he accuses of benefiting from the crimes of war in Gaza and, therefore, he considers them complicit in Israel.
Image source, Getty Images
His list includes the Armed manufacturer Lockheed Martin for selling weapons and technological companies Alphabet, IBM, Microsoft and Amazon for providing technology that allows Israel to track and attack Palestinians.
He also mentions Caterpillar, Hyundai and Volvo, who, according to his report, have supplied vehicles used to demolish homes and razed bombed communities.
It also includes financial institutions such as BNP Paribas and Barclays banks, which have been subscribing to Israeli Treasury bonds throughout the conflict.
The company's response
The BBC contacted the companies mentioned to request comments.
Lockheed Martin said that military sales abroad are transactions between governments, so he suggested talking to the White House.
Volvo said not to share Albanese's criticism, which he considers are based on “insufficient and partial information.”
Image source, Getty Images
He added that the company is committed to respecting human rights and constantly works to strengthen its due diligence.
However, he said that, since it manufactures lasting goods that change hands frequently, “unfortunately, the control or influence we can have on how and where our products are used during their useful life is limited.”
The recommendation
For the mentioned companies the business is lucrative, according to the report, and helps Israel to continue the war
Albanese believes that all companies should stop dealing with Israel immediately.
Israel's greatest ally, United States, abandoned the UN Human Rights Council when President Donald Trump took office in January.
Washington responded to Albanese's report, whose team contacted US companies to obtain information about their treatment with Israel, pointing it as an “unacceptable political and economic warfare campaign against the US and world economy.”
It is unlikely that the US administration pays much more attention to the indications of this international lawyer.
However, the large US companies mentioned in their report could begin to question their links with Israel after echoing the conviction in other countries where they have economic interests.
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