UN Expert Urges Multinationals to Cut Ties with Israel Amid War Crimes Claims

Francesca Albanese's allegations of complicity in war crimes against firms working with Israel have sparked widespread debate and concern.

A United Nations expert has urged numerous multinational corporations to cease business operations with Israel, expressing that they risk becoming complicit in alleged war crimes occurring in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Francesca Albanese, who presented her findings to the UN Human Rights Council, characterized the situation as an "economy of genocide," asserting that the conflict with Hamas has become a venue for the testing of weapons and technology without oversight or accountability.

Israel has dismissed Albanese's report as "groundless" and predicted it would be forgotten in time. UN special rapporteurs, including Albanese, act independently to advise on human rights issues; Albanese, an Italian international lawyer, is known for her candid assessments and has previously stated that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. In her latest report, she reiterated this claim, describing the actions of Israel as possibly one of the most brutal genocides in recent history.

Albanese identified several corporations she claims benefit from and are thus complicit in the alleged crimes in Gaza. Notable examples include arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and technology giants Alphabet, IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon, which provide technology utilized by Israel for surveillance and targeting of Palestinians. Moreover, Albanese cites companies such as Caterpillar, Hyundai, and Volvo for supplying vehicles reportedly employed in demolishing homes and destroying bombed neighborhoods. She has also implicated financial institutions such as BNP Paribas and Barclays for backing Israeli treasury bonds throughout the ongoing conflict.

The BBC has sought comments from the corporations mentioned in the report. Lockheed Martin stated that foreign military sales are managed via government channels and should be directed to the U.S. government. Volvo countered Albanese's claims, stating they are based on "insufficient and partly inaccurate information" and affirmed their commitment to human rights.

Albanese argues that the lucrative nature of these business ties helps sustain Israel’s campaign, calling for immediate cessation of all dealings with the nation. While UN reports do not possess legal weight, they can provoke significant attention. Albanese’s approach aims to remind corporations and governments of the global resistance toward apartheid South Africa, where extensive economic ties were ultimately criticized, leading to disinvestment and aiding the end of that regime.

By targeting well-known companies, Albanese hopes to empower consumers worldwide to make informed purchasing decisions similar to past movements against apartheid. The notion of complicity in genocide is one that warrants serious consideration by the multinational corporations named. The strict legal definitions surrounding genocide necessitate a judicial declaration, a process that involves the International Court of Justice currently considering a case against Israel, initiated by South Africa.

Complicity implies that an entity's actions contribute to genocide without the intention of executing such acts, a perspective Albanese believes could apply to businesses supplying weapons and support to Israel's military efforts. International legal advisors have cautioned European governments about potential charges of complicity due to ongoing arms sales to Israel.

While Israel has long criticized Albanese as biased and even antisemitic, the nation has referred to her latest report as "groundless" and defamatory, asserting their defensive actions against Hamas do not amount to genocide. Nevertheless, Albanese received appreciation from various UN member states, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Arab regions, who supported her calls for disinvestment and echoed sentiments of an ongoing genocidal act. Some lawmakers issued warnings about Israel's ongoing vilification of international legal experts.

Traditionally supportive of Israel, European nations also condemned the blockade on Gaza, emphasizing Israel's obligations as an occupying power to ensure the welfare of Palestinians. The United States, Israel's closest ally, withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council under President Trump's administration. The U.S. response to Albanese’s findings accused her of launching an “unacceptable campaign of political and economic warfare.”

While the U.S. government may not engage deeply with her claims, American firms highlighted in her report might reconsider their partnerships with Israel given the reactions from various nations concerned about their own economic interests.