A new United Nations report, authored by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, highlighted over 60 global corporations for their alleged complicity in Israel’s ongoing occupation and military operations in Palestinian territories.
‘For Some, Genocide Is Profitable’ : Israel’s Genocide And The Global Corporate Nexus
UN report said that while political leaders had been shirking their responsibilities to pressure Israel to halt its bloodshed in Gaza, “far too many corporate entities have profited from Israel’s economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now, genocide”.
Tech Giants Implicated
The report cited the involvement of multiple tech giants, among the corporations Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, were named for supplying cloud and AI technologies that have supported Israel’s military operations. Specifically, AI systems like Lavender, which reportedly automate the selection of bombing targets in Gaza.
Adding to these allegations the report cited Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract signed in 2021 between Google, Amazon, and the Israeli government. The project provides cloud infrastructure that Albanese’s report claims is used to enhance military and surveillance capabilities.
Employees from within these tech companies who spoke out against their firms’ involvement have reportedly faced professional repercussions, including terminations.
Infrastructure, Tourism and Energy
However, the report did not just highlight the tech corporations but also other companies which are implicated in what the report calls the "machinery of occupation".
Caterpillar is reportedly identified for supplying bulldozers that have been used in the demolition of houses and to expand illegal settlements. Chevron and BP are accused of powering the Israeli energy grid that supports military operations and contributes to the structural entrenchment of annexation.
Booking.com and Airbnb are named for listing vacation rentals located in illegal settlements on occupied land, effectively normalizing and monetizing these territories.
Academia and Arms Trade
Institutions such as the University of Edinburgh were mentioned for being engaged in research partnerships that reportedly advanced surveillance technologies linked to Israeli operations in the occupied territories.
Financial Gains from War
Albanese pointed to a 179 percent increase in Israel’s stock exchange since October 2023, arguing it is evidence of significant financial gain from the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“There is no glory in upholding a system that enables and defends genocide,” Albanese posted on social media.
Israel’s Response
The Israeli government has condemned the report, calling it defamatory, legally baseless, and an abuse of the UN Special Rapporteur’s mandate. While the report itself carries no direct legal force, experts suggest it could have long-term implications for international law, corporate regulation, and future legal actions.
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