UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has accused corporations of profiting from violence in Gaza, highlighting a stark economic disparity.
Her latest report, presented to the UN Human Rights Council, details how arms companies, banks, tech firms, and others have fueled Israel’s genocide.
She calls for global action to halt trade and impose accountability on those involved.
Albanese reported that the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange surged by 213 percent over the past 20 months, amassing over $220 billion in market gains.
This economic boom contrasts sharply with the devastation in Gaza, where 85,000 tonnes of explosives — six times the power of Hiroshima — have been unleashed.
She stated that Israel uses Gaza as a testing ground for advanced weaponry, including drones and surveillance systems, benefiting its military-industrial complex.
Albanese stressed that international law holds even those with minimal ties to this system accountable, urging an end to corporate complicity in these grave injustices.
The UN expert named 48 corporate actors, including arms manufacturers and energy giants, as key players in this system.
These entities enable illegal settlements and military actions in Gaza through investments and services, she stated.
Albanese emphasized that even minimal connections to this system carry responsibility under international law.
She urged states to impose a full arms embargo and suspend trade agreements with Israel to address these violations.
Albanese’s report demands that countries and corporations end their ties with Israel’s economy to stop enabling human rights abuses.
She warned that everyday financial decisions, from banking to purchases, implicate consumers in this system.
The UN expert called for legal consequences for corporate involvement and urged member states to act decisively.
Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva dismissed the report as “legally groundless” and did not engage with the council, citing “bias”.