UN Expert Urges Global Corporations to Halt Business with Israel Amid War Crimes Allegations

Francesca Albanese's report details potential complicity of major corporations in Israel's military actions in Gaza, prompting widespread international discussions.

A United Nations expert has issued a strong call for international companies to terminate their business engagements with Israel, claiming they may be implicated in war crimes committed in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Francesca Albanese, known for her candid critiques, presented her findings to the UN Human Rights Council, characterizing the ongoing conflict with Hamas as a "testing ground" for new military technologies and weaponry, devoid of accountability.

In her report, Albanese asserts that Israel's actions could be classified as genocide, referring specifically to the severe humanitarian toll within Gaza. She includes a list of corporations she believes profit from and are complicit in these alleged war crimes, singling out defense contractor Lockheed Martin for its arms sales, along with prominent tech giants like Alphabet, IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon for providing technology used in surveillance and tracking operations against Palestinians. Other companies—Caterpillar, Hyundai, and Volvo—are accused of supplying vehicles that facilitate the demolition of homes and destruction of communities.

Albanese's report also implicates banks such as BNP Paribas and Barclays for underwriting Israeli treasury bonds during the conflict. This array of serious allegations has drawn mixed responses from the companies cited. Lockheed Martin emphasized that its military sales occur through government contracts, while Volvo rejected Albanese's accusations, asserting they were based on inaccurate data.

With calls for disinvestment echoing the historical context of international sanctions against apartheid South Africa, Albanese hopes to mobilize both consumers and corporate entities to reconsider their associations with Israel. The report's compelling accusations are of particular importance as they spotlight potential legal ramifications regarding complicity in genocide—defined as actions that forecastably contribute to genocidal outcomes without direct intent to perpetrate such acts.

Despite Israel's rejection of the claims as "groundless" and defamatory, support for Albanese's position has emerged from various African, Asian, and Arab nations. These states recognized the ongoing humanitarian crisis and many echoed her call for a reassessment of economic ties with Israel. Meanwhile, European powers have begun criticizing the denial of aid to Gaza and underscored Israel's obligations as an occupying force.

In contrast, the United States, which exited the UN Human Rights Council under former President Trump, dismissed the report as part of a broader "political and economic warfare" aimed at American interests. While immediate changes in corporate behavior remain uncertain, the widespread acknowledgment of Albanese's report may prompt a deeper reflection among U.S. firms impacted by international perceptions concerning their business practices with Israel.