HRC59: From economy of occupation to economy of genocide
The 59th Session of the Human Rights Council
16 June - 09 July 2025
Item 7: Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on OPT
3 July 2025
By Samantha Rodríguez Santillán / GICJ
Executive Summary
In her latest report (A/HRC/59/23), Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, exposes the central role of private and state-linked corporate actors in sustaining Israel’s prolonged occupation and the escalating violence in Gaza. The report frames the Israeli regime as one of settler-colonial apartheid, supported not only through political and military means but also through an expansive economic system that she refers to as an “economy of genocide”.
During the discussion, groups of states and other states expressed their support to the Special Rapporteur’s work, who is facing serious pressure both online and from states - like the USA - imposing sanctions on her. Member states showed concern for the involvement of powerful corporations in Palestine as shown in the report, calling on them to respect principles such as Due Diligence and Corporate Responsibility. Member states also urged Israel and complicit states to uphold the rulings of the ICJ, to stop harming civilians and put an end to the use of starvation as a method of warfare.
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) fully supports the work of the Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, and commends her courage in naming all actors involved in the ongoing genocide in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Her report is a critical warning about the erosion of international law and the structural role that economic interests play in sustaining a regime of apartheid and systemic violence.
Background
The occupied Palestinian territory (OPT), comprising the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, has been under Israeli military control since 1967. Over nearly six decades, what began as a military occupation has progressively taken the form of a settler-colonial and apartheid regime, characterised by systematic displacement, territorial fragmentation, racial domination, and denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. While the illegality of Israel’s settlement enterprise has been repeatedly reaffirmed by international bodies, including the UN Security Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Human Rights Council, the occupation has not only persisted but deepened, with growing international complicity.
Summary of the Special Rapporteur’s Report
The report identifies key sectors that have become integral to the Israeli settler-colonial project. Arms manufacturers, surveillance technology companies, financial institutions, construction firms, and academic institutions are among the entities involved. These actors are not passive observers but active participants in a system that facilitates the annexation of land, the suppression of Palestinian life and identity, and the militarisation of everyday life in the occupied territory. Many of these companies operate globally, with links to states and markets that help shield them from accountability.
Particular attention is given to the role of the military and surveillance industries. Israeli and international corporations are developing and marketing weapons systems tested on the Palestinian population, particularly in Gaza. Artificial intelligence and drone technologies have been used to target civilians, while predictive policing tools and biometric databases contribute to systematic control and repression. These practices, the report argues, are not incidental but part of a broader strategy of demographic and territorial domination.
The report also highlights how the financial sector enables the expansion of illegal settlements and the expropriation of Palestinian land. Banks, pension funds, and asset managers continue to invest in companies that operate in or support settlement activity. Meanwhile, academic institutions provide ideological and technological support to the occupation, including research used in the development of military and surveillance tools.
Ms. Albanese stresses that these forms of corporate involvement are taking place in a context where international crimes are being committed. She recalls that the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are currently examining acts that may constitute genocide, apartheid, and war crimes. In this context, corporate actors that continue to operate in connection with the Israeli occupation risk legal liability under both international and domestic law. The report underscores that due diligence is no longer enough. Where companies are found to contribute to international crimes, disengagement and accountability are required.
In conclusion, the report calls for urgent action by states, corporations, and international institutions. The Special Rapporteur recommends the imposition of arms embargoes and economic sanctions targeting complicit entities, the development of binding international rules on business and human rights, and the pursuit of criminal accountability for executives and institutions involved in atrocity crimes. Her findings are a clear reminder that the occupation is not only a political crisis but also an economic system that turns violence and dispossession into profit. Ending it requires dismantling the structures that make it possible.
Recommendations
States are urged to adopt immediate legal and policy measures to disrupt the economic networks that sustain the occupation and contribute to atrocity crimes. This includes imposing arms embargoes and targeted sanctions on companies and individuals found to be complicit in violations of international humanitarian and criminal law. States must also ensure that their national laws enable the investigation and prosecution of corporate actors, whether individuals or legal entities, who are knowingly contributing to international crimes, including apartheid and genocide.
Interactive Dialogue
Opening statement
On 3 July 2025, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, presented her latest report before the Human Rights Council during its 59th session. Her intervention focused on the escalating crisis in Gaza and the structural role of economic actors in sustaining Israel’s settler-colonial regime.
Ms. Albanese opened by denouncing the catastrophic toll of Israel’s military operations in Gaza since 7 October 2023. She underscored the exponential increase in arms production and investment in military technology, as well as the active use of Gaza as a testing ground for new weapons systems.
She emphasised that Israel is not acting alone. Her report exposed a vast economic machinery underpinning the occupation - one that enables the displacement and replacement of Palestinians through transnational corporate complicity. She identified banks, tourism platforms, charities, and academic institutions as actors financing, enabling, and normalising the regime of apartheid in the occupied territory. Ms. Albanese referred to this system as an “economy of occupation,” which, when applied to the Palestinian context, amounts to systematic violations of international law occurring openly and with the complicity - or silence - of the international community.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Albanese called on states to adopt concrete measures, including arms embargoes and targeted sanctions, to disrupt the profit structures fuelling the ongoing human rights violations. She stressed that accountability is not a question of “if” but of “when,” urging the international community to act now, as the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is, in her words, “apocalyptic.”
Statement of Country Concerned
The Representative of the State of Palestine welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s report and praised her courage in naming all actors involved in the ongoing genocide. He emphasised that Gaza is experiencing daily atrocities and highlighted the role of corporations profiting from destruction. He then called for these companies to be held accountable, listed in the UN business and human rights database, and subject to legal consequences. He finally reminded the Council that silence is complicity and that Palestinians can no longer afford more silent partners in their destruction.
Statement of Other Countries and Groups
The delegate of Ghana, speaking on behalf of the Group of African States, expressed concern over the violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law against the Palestinian people. He denounced Israel’s policies of settlement, collective punishment and forcible displacement of civilian population, calling Israel to comply with ICJ’s provisional measures. He stressed the African Group’s call to address the root causes of the conflict and its support for the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and the establishment of a Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Finally, he denounced the attacks against the Special Rapporteur and called for the protection of her mandate.
The delegate of Bahrain, speaking on behalf of the Group of Arab States, thanked the Special Rapporteur for her report, which shows a complicated network of complicity and the role of multinational corporations to enhance the colonial system put in place by Israel. The group expressed great concern for the export of surveillance technology tested on Palestinians. He then denounced the actions taken by Israel in the OPT, especially in Gaza, as a systematic way to destroy all basis of life there. He finally condemned the unjustified attacks on the Special Rapporteur and to fully respect the decisions by the ICJ.
The delegate of Kuwait, speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, showed concern for the content of the report and reiterated the need to respect international law. He then insisted on putting an end to the occupation of the Palestinian territories and enabling Palestinians’ self-determination. The group condemned Israel's aggression and its attempts to alter the demography of Palestine while they called for the immediate access of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The delegate of the European Union (EU) reiterated its cooperation with the OHCHR and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, as well as its compliance with international law. She expressed the EU’s commitment to refuse the application of the EU-Israel agreement to occupied territories, but recalled the EU’s opposition to boycotting Israel. She called for accountability and an immediate cease-fire and the release of all hostages. She stressed the need to remove all restrictions applied to humanitarian assistance and condemned the escalation of violence in the West Bank, including in Jerusalem East. She finally called all parties to cooperate with relevant HRC mechanisms and respect their mandates.
The delegate of Uganda, speaking on behalf of the Non-aligned movement, expressed appreciation for the SR’s report. They condemned in the strongest term the acts of aggression and collective punishment perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people. They also note with alarm the involvement of corporations in the violation of international law and Palestinians’ rights, as expressed in the report. They finally demanded for the unimpeded access of humanitarian aid and the dismantling of the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
The delegate of Jordan expressed strong support for the report, underscoring that the violations in the OPT are not only military but also economic, perpetrated through trade, business, and industry. He reaffirmed the legal and moral responsibility of the Council to take concrete measures. The delegate called for a just and comprehensive peace, emphasising the right of the Palestinian people to protection, justice, freedom, and self-determination within the pre-1967 borders.
The delegate of Brazil agreed that the Israeli occupation is economically sustained by private corporate activity, undermining the human rights and development of Palestinians. He condemned the indiscriminate destruction in Gaza, restrictions on aid, and expansion of settlements, all in clear violation of international law.
The representative of Ireland described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, condemning the deadly incidents near aid distribution points and the lack of access to humanitarian assistance. He highlighted increasing settler violence and illegal settlement construction in the West Bank. He also reaffirmed that Israeli settlements are illegal and undermine the two-state solution. The delegate finally noted that Ireland is moving forward with legislation to ban imports from Israeli settlements.
The delegate of Mexico called attention to the unlawful arms trade and the disproportionate use of force. He criticised the corporate exploitation of Palestinian natural resources, urging companies to uphold the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. He expressed strong concern over the threats against Ms. Albanese and reaffirmed the importance of respecting the special procedures’ independence.
The representative of Colombia commended Ms. Albanese for her integrity and dedication in documenting the Gaza genocide. He then echoed her findings on the war economy, emphasising the responsibility of corporations sustaining it. He reaffirmed Colombia’s commitment to ending the genocide and supporting international accountability efforts.
The delegate of South Africa emphasised that such complicity denies Palestinians their right to self-determination, urging corporations to end activities linked to the occupation immediately. He warned that judicial developments confirm such engagement is illegal under international law. The representative finally called for the same international solidarity shown during apartheid in South Africa to now be applied in defense of Palestinian rights.
The delegate of Chile urged states to act to prevent businesses from profiting from violence and called for a stronger application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. She pushed for clear accountability mechanisms and a legally binding international instrument to address business activities in conflict settings. She called for justice and reparations for Palestinian victims.
The delegate of Belgium highlighted the need for corporate compliance with the UN Guiding Principles and urged companies to end any business activities contributing to violations in the OPT. He recalled the recent ICJ advisory opinion and announced that Belgium, along with ten other EU Member States, has requested the European Commission to analyse the legal implications for third states and organisations. He called for concrete steps to ensure EU compliance with the ICJ opinion.
NGO’s position
A number of other NGOs also took the floor. However, their interventions primarily focused on discrediting the Special Rapporteur personally, often relying on ad hominem attacks rather than engaging with the substance of her report. In line with the objective and principled tone of this document, such statements are not included in this summary, as they do not contribute constructively to the discussion of the legal or factual findings presented.
Nonetheless, several NGOs highlighted the urgency of accountability for corporate complicity in the prolonged occupation and the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. They called on States to initiate criminal investigations against the named entities, adopt immediate arms embargoes, suspend trade and financial ties that contribute to the occupation, and ensure these companies are included in the OHCHR’s business and human rights database.
Concluding remarks
In her closing statement, Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese expressed deep gratitude to the states that supported her mandate and report.
Ms. Albanese stressed that corporate responsibility under international law cannot be addressed solely through due diligence when the violations are systematic and well-documented. In the context of Palestine, she argued that the only meaningful response from companies is to disengage entirely and seek reparation. She warned that continuing business with Israel under current conditions is no longer a neutral act but one of complicity.
She concluded by framing the situation as a global test: whether economic systems can exist without enabling atrocity. Drawing parallels to corporate complicity in apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany, she called for a moment of reckoning: urging states and corporations alike to dismantle the structures enabling injustice, with courage, not just outrage.
Position of Geneva International Centre for Justice
Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) fully supports the work of the Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, and commends her courage in naming all actors involved in the ongoing genocide in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Her report is a critical warning about the erosion of international law and the structural role that economic interests play in sustaining a regime of apartheid and systemic violence.
More than a year into this phase of the conflict, GICJ urges States to move beyond rhetoric and take immediate action. Ongoing impunity continues to cost thousands of Palestinian lives and has also claimed the lives of medical personnel, journalists, humanitarian workers, and human rights defenders. GICJ calls on all States to uphold their legal obligations, adopt concrete measures to halt the genocide, and ensure accountability for all those responsible.
#GenevaInternationalCentre4Justice #GICJ #HRC59 #OPT #Palestine #Gaza #HumanRights
