BHR in conflict-affected areas
After decades of occupation, the civilian population of Gaza is facing further collective punishment including military bombardment, constituting clear breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel, following killings and hostage-taking of Israeli civilians by Hamas on 7 October.
While the international community has immense responsibility to help bring this humanitarian crisis to an end, secure the release of hostages, and end the occupation, business also has an immediate responsibility to ensure it is not contributing to the horrific killings of Palestinian civilians in Gaza or exacerbating the human suffering across the region.
For business and investors, the international standards in conflict are clearly defined by the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), supplemented with guidance from the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, as well as the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and UN Development Programme. These demand heightened human rights due diligence regarding their operations and supply chains, proportionate to the scale and severity of the risks to people.
To encourage companies to deliver transparent due diligence, cross-company learning, and to support responsible investor engagement, BHRRC is beginning a survey and tracker of companies’ heightened due diligence, as we have done for other conflicts.
While this violence continues, companies in this broader zone of conflict must be far more diligent to ensure they are not exacerbating or contributing to the conflict. The harm they can contribute to civilians is immense, as are the legal and reputational risks they run if they ignore their responsibilities.
Switched off: Tech company opacity & Israel's war on Gaza
We invited 104 technology companies operating in or providing services to the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel to respond to a survey on transparency and heightened human rights due diligence in the context of Israel's war on Gaza.
Featured stories
Experts call on arms manufacturers & investors to end the transfer of arms to Israel while media & civil society allege companies' involvement in the war on Gaza
Following the call from UN Experts to end the sale of arms to Israel, we asked 15 companies and 21 investors about their heightened human rights due diligence and measures taken to end the sale of arms. Investor responses pointed to the need for heightened human rights due diligence by companies in the war zone and indicated exclusion of weapons companies from their portfolios is an option.
Financial giant Storebrand divests from IBM over human rights concerns
The Norwegian investor Storebrand divested its shares in IBM due to the company's involvement in AI technology used in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
War on Gaza sees escalating global boycott efforts targeting companies linked to Israel
Companies with ties to Israel have faced escalating consumer boycotts during Israel's war on Gaza, impacting sales and financial performance. In some cases, companies have ceased or halted operations in Israel following boycotts.
CSOs file criminal complaint against Booking.com for allegedly profiting from Israeli settlement listings
The complaint, filed in the Netherlands by SOMO and three other human rights organisations, accuses Booking.com of "profiting from war crimes by facilitating the rental of vacation homes on land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population".
OPT/Israel: UN experts call on international community, including businesses, to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people
UN experts warn of a potential genocide against Palestinians by Israel. Over 11,000 killed, 27,000 injured, and 1.6m displaced in Gaza. UN experts are calling on the international community - including non-state actors such as businesses - to take immediate action to prevent the risk of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Workers and trade unionists disrupt manufacturing and handling of Israel-linked arms and military equipment
Workers, trade unionists and activists in countries including Spain, the UK and Belgium have heeded Palestinian trade union calls for solidarity. They have taken action to disrupt the supply of arms and other military equipment to Israel.
Guidance: Responsible business conduct in challenging contexts
Heightened human rights due diligence for business in conflict-affected contexts
Guidance from UNDP and the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights
Conducting business during armed conflict
What is International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and how do companies comply with their obligations? Guidance from Business and Human Rights Compliance
