Corporations Complicit in Apartheid in Palestinian Territory, Occupied

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As the world grapples with the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank, it has become starkly clear that corporations are complicit in a system of apartheid that oppresses Palestinians and extracts their natural resources. For decades, multinational companies have been involved in human rights abuses, yet they remain unaccountable.

Corporate Complicity in Apartheid

• Multinational companies have been operating in illegal Israeli settlements in violation of international law
• The United Nations has listed these businesses, but the countries where they are based have failed to take effective measures to hold them accountable
• Corporations must be aware of the impact of their activities on conflict dynamics and avoid unintentional support of conflict

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

• The siege on Gaza, imposed for 16 years, is a war crime that has resulted in thirst, starvation, disease, and widespread death
• Corporate complicity in these atrocities must be addressed promptly
• States must take immediate action to prevent genocide in Gaza

Human Rights Abuses in the West Bank

• Israeli forces and settlers have escalated their attacks against Palestinians, resulting in forced displacement, arbitrary arrests, and torture
• Multinationals have been involved in the detention industry, settlement construction, and home demolitions, actively supporting Israel’s illegal settlement economy

SOMO’s Research Exposes Corporate Impunity

• SOMO’s research highlights the corporate impunity that characterises business-as-usual approach of many multinationals operating in occupied Palestine
• Through activities like tourism and the unlawful exploitation of Palestinian natural resources, these corporations support Israel’s illegal settlement economy

States’ Role in Enforcing Accountability

• Home states must prohibit trade, financial transactions, or other forms of economic engagement with corporations and entities that are complicit in human rights abuses
• States have a crucial role to play in enforcing accountability and upholding international law

Civil Society’s Role in Holding Corporations Accountable

• Labour unions and allies have coordinated direct actions, obstructing the supply of weapons to Israel amidst its military campaign against the civilian population in Gaza
• SOMO collaborates with local and international organisations to hold corporate actors accountable for their role in international crimes perpetrated in Palestine

Time for Corporate Accountability is Now

• States must take immediate action to uphold international law, prevent genocide in Gaza, and regulate corporations domiciled in their jurisdiction for their involvement in potential violations across Palestine
• The world demands justice for the people of Palestine.