On July 9, 2025, the U.S. imposed sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese following the release of a report on corporations profiting from the Palestinian genocide.

Consequently, the U.S. called for Albanese’s removal from UN operations, despite her being neither directly employed by the institution nor under the authority of Secretary-General Guterres.

Titled “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,” the report, authored by Albanese herself, exposes several companies’ responsibility in funding the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

It addresses several industrial dimensions in categorizing corporations, revealing that military manufacturers, tech companies, construction businesses, and academic institutions are significant financial enablers of the genocidal expansion.

Through this report, Francesca Albanese advocates for holding involved corporations and political leaders accountable under global governance organizations and courts.

Military and Arms Manufacturers

The military-industrial complex thrives on the manufacturing of arms and weapons during wartime. Government spending in the U.S. and Israel rewards corporate manufacturers for supplying the occupation with the necessary destructive weapons and technology.

In fiscal year 2025, $980.88B was committed to the defense and military budget out of $2.26T in total budgetary resources in the U.S.

The following are examples of major corporate entities mentioned in Albanese’s report that sponsor the Zionist occupation:

• Elbit Systems: Israeli company that supplied drones, surveillance technology, and AI-powered programs deployed in Gaza.

• Lockheed Martin: U.S. supplier of F-35 and F-16 jets, as well as bombs like the HBU-31 JDAMs, linked to mass civilian casualties.

• Caterpillar Inc.: U.S. supplier of bulldozers used in home demolitions in the West Bank and Gaza, partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries.

• HD Hyundai: South Korean manufacturer of heavy machinery used in demolitions and settlement construction.

• Rheinmetall: German producer of aircraft bombs used in Gaza.

Tech and Surveillance Companies

The report highlights several technology and surveillance companies accused of enabling Israel’s apartheid policies in Palestine and the broader international system. International media platforms and cyber infrastructure are tied to firms that support Israel’s security apparatus.

Mass surveillance has enabled illegal data collection and facilitated targeted assassinations in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, and other relevant countries. These assassinations are not limited to members or leaders of resistance groups but also include political activists.

• NSO Group: Israeli developer of Pegasus spyware integrated into iOS and Android mobile devices.

• IBM: U.S. firm that maintained Israel’s biometric database for population control and trained Israeli intelligence personnel.

• Microsoft: U.S. multinational that embedded systems in the Israeli military, prisons, and settlements; also linked to surveillance for Israeli intelligence.

• Alphabet (Google) & Amazon: U.S. corporations that secured a $1.2B cloud/AI contract with Israel, providing critical infrastructure for Israeli military operations.

• Palantir Technologies: U.S. supplier of AI predictive policing and battlefield data systems to the Israeli military.

Construction and Settlement Expansion

Multiple corporate entities involved in building, financing, and sustaining Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are referenced in the report.

Their contribution to land theft and forced displacement is a direct violation of international law, especially under the Fourth Geneva Convention and UNSC Resolution 2334. These firms have provided construction materials, infrastructure, and real estate services while pillaging indigenous resources.

• Airbnb & Booking Holdings: U.S. companies that listed rental properties in settlements, profiting from illegal tourism.

• Keller Williams Realty: U.S. marketer of properties in illegal settlements.

• Heidelberg Materials AG: German operator of quarries in the occupied West Bank, supplying materials for settlements.

Energy and Resource Exploitation

The report documents how multinational corporations extract, supply, and profit from energy and natural resources in occupied Palestinian territories, reinforcing Israel’s control over Palestinian land, water, and maritime resources.

These activities violate international laws prohibiting pillage, apartheid, and collective punishment—particularly during Israel’s siege on Gaza in the post-October 7 context.

• Chevron: U.S. extractor of gas from the Leviathan and Tamar fields, paying taxes to Israel.

• BP: UK corporation that explored offshore gas in contested Palestinian maritime zones.

• Mekorot: Israeli firm that monopolizes water resources and deprives Palestinians of access.

Academic Institutions

Universities and research centers—primarily located in the occupied lands, the U.S., and Europe—are deeply tied to Israel’s military-industrial complex. Intellectual warfare has normalized apartheid and occupation in academic spheres, largely supported by Zionist funding and pressure.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): U.S. Ivy League university that conducted military research funded by Israel’s Ministry of Defense, often partnering with Lockheed Martin and Elbit Systems.

• Technical University of Munich: German institution that has collaborated with Israeli military-tech firms via EU Horizon funding.

• University of Edinburgh: UK university that held investments in tech giants (Google, Amazon) tied to Israeli surveillance.

• Israeli universities such as Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, and Technion developed military tech (e.g., drones, AI targeting) and partnered with arms manufacturers like Elbit.

Political Implications

The report underscores the profound political implications of corporate complicity in Israel’s occupation, revealing a crisis in international law and the enduring violence of racial capitalism.

The International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) 2024 advisory opinion declared Israel’s occupation illegal, rendering corporate dealings with settlements potential war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. Economically, the occupation exemplifies racial capitalism, where military-industrial profiteering mirrors colonial resource extraction.

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has challenged this impunity, forcing withdrawals by Veolia, CRH, and Ben & Jerry’s—even as Western governments criminalize solidarity.

Campus protests and legal battles, from Germany’s universal jurisdiction cases to MIT’s student-led divestment, expose the hypocrisy of “ethical” tech and “humanitarian” branding.

Ultimately, the struggle over Palestine is not merely about land, but about corporate power, neo-imperialism, and the possibility of a decolonial future.