84 Global NGOs Urge Europe, UK to Ban Settlement-Linked Trade in West Bank

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A coalition of 84 international NGOs has urged European and UK governments to halt all commercial and investment dealings connected to Israel’s settlement enterprise in the occupied West Bank. The groups, which include Oxfam, Amnesty International, the Human Rights League, and the Platform of French NGOs for Palestine, launched the campaign on Monday.

The NGOs are calling on governments to block trade, loans, and partnerships that they argue contribute to settlement expansion, which is widely recognized as illegal under international law and condemned by the United Nations.

Corporations Under Scrutiny

The campaign’s report highlighted several corporations accused of links to settlement-related business. French retailer Carrefour came under criticism for its 2022 franchise agreement with Electra Consumer Products and its subsidiary Yenot Bitan, which reportedly operates multiple outlets in West Bank settlements. Carrefour responded that its agreement does not include stores in occupied territories.

British equipment manufacturer JCB was also named for allegedly supplying bulldozers and heavy machinery used in the demolition of Palestinian homes and in settlement construction. Spanish travel company eDreams-Opodo, German tourism group TUI, Siemens, Danish shipping giant Maersk, and Barclays Bank were similarly criticized for either offering services or financing tied to settlements.

The report noted that some companies, including Maersk and eDreams-Opodo, have since modified their practices following engagement with NGOs. These changes reflect growing international pressure on corporations to distance themselves from settlement-linked activities.

A Push for Accountability

NGOs argue that by continuing to engage with settlement-linked business, corporations and governments risk complicity in violations of international law. They emphasize that halting trade and investment is necessary to ensure accountability and reduce incentives for settlement expansion.

The campaign represents one of the broadest international NGO coalitions in recent years to address the issue, signaling an increasing effort to push governments and businesses toward stricter compliance with human rights standards.