UN adds 61 firms to updated list of companies linked to Israeli settlements

Palestine's delegation to the United Nations has called on global corporations to review and sever commercial relationships with businesses operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Palestine's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, urged companies worldwide to reassess their commercial ties with firms included in an updated database by the UN Human Rights Office, says Andalou Ajansi.

Khraishi said many of the businesses listed were Israeli companies with commercial connections in several countries. He said international enterprises cooperating with those companies should review their relationships.

He praised companies that had voluntarily withdrawn from settlement-related activities or ended existing contracts, and called for the UN database to be updated annually.

The updated database includes 214 companies across 11 countries involved in settlement-related activities. The latest update added 61 businesses to the index, while five previously listed companies were removed after the UN Human Rights Office verified that their involvement in specified activities had ended.

Israel was not present when the update was presented to the UN Human Rights Council and did not exercise its right of reply.

Spain's permanent representative strongly criticised Israel, accusing it of systematically violating fundamental civilian rights and subjecting Palestinians to "intolerable dehumanization" through military campaigns, settler gang violence and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.

Spain also urged Israel to comply with UN Security Council resolutions, fulfil its responsibilities as an occupying power, reverse de facto annexation measures and withdraw military forces from all occupied Arab territories, including the Golan Heights and Lebanese territory.

Spain reiterated that a two-state solution was the only path to a lasting peace.