SAFA — The humanitarian and human rights crisis in the Gaza Strip took center stage at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday, with member and observer states calling for an immediate cease-fire, unhindered humanitarian access and an end to ongoing Israeli violations against Palestinians.

The debate took place during discussions on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ updated database of companies involved in settlement-related activities, as well as under Item 7 on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Many member and observer states, along with regional and political groups, used their interventions to highlight the “catastrophic” conditions in Gaza, citing the continuing blockade, bombardment and civilian casualties. They called for an immediate halt to hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access and concrete measures to protect Palestinians.

Speakers also raised concerns about the occupied West Bank, calling for an end to settler violence against Palestinian civilians, a halt to settlement expansion and the release of withheld Palestinian tax revenues.

Many delegations voiced support for the rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination.

Non-governmental organizations also addressed the Council, highlighting Israeli violations on the ground and calling for stronger accountability measures and implementation of existing UN resolutions.

UN Database Expands to 214 Companies

Against this backdrop, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) significantly expanded its database of businesses involved in specified activities related to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The updated database adds 61 companies, bringing the total to 214 businesses from 11 countries. The list includes Israeli and international companies operating in sectors including food and agriculture, energy, transport and logistics, tourism, finance and infrastructure.

Among the newly listed companies are Israeli firms Tnuva, Netafim, Tavorah, Energix, Adama, Maman Cargo, Aroma Espresso Bar, Burger Ranch, Carmel Winery and Teralight, as well as Mexican company Orbia, which is linked to Netafim.

The database continues to include several major international companies, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Tripadvisor and Motorola.

OHCHR assesses businesses against specified settlement-related activities, including the provision of services and infrastructure supporting settlements, the use of natural resources, and the provision of security, financial and logistical services associated with settlement activity.

Palestine Calls for Review of Commercial Ties

In its statement to the Council, the State of Palestine called on governments and businesses worldwide to review commercial relationships with companies named in the database and ensure that their activities do not contribute to violations of Palestinian rights.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stressed that businesses have a responsibility to conduct human rights due diligence and take appropriate action when their activities are linked to adverse human rights impacts.

The database does not itself impose sanctions, prohibit companies from operating or constitute a judicial finding of legal liability. Rather, it identifies businesses that OHCHR found to be involved in specified settlement-related activities covered by the mandate establishing the database.

The broader legal context is clear: Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory have repeatedly been found to violate international law by UN bodies and international judicial authorities. The database, however, has a narrower purpose, documenting corporate involvement in specified activities connected to those settlements.

Several states and NGOs said the expanded database should lead to greater scrutiny of corporate activities connected to settlements, stronger national regulation of business conduct in occupied territory and more systematic efforts to ensure accountability for companies involved in settlement-related activities.