A new analysis of procurement records and corporate disclosures has identified at least 17 companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that currently hold United Kingdom public-sector contracts. These agreements, totaling 125 individual contracts, have a combined value of more than 2.129 billion pounds ($2.89bn). The findings have intensified pressure on the British government, with over 140 Labour MPs urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to implement a formal ban on trade with entities operating in these settlements.
The scale of these financial ties raises significant legal questions, particularly following the July 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice. The court determined that Israel’s ongoing presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and must be terminated as rapidly as possible. Furthermore, the court established that other states have a clear obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence. Legal experts, including Stephen Humphreys, a professor of international law at the London School of Economics, argue that by maintaining these commercial relationships, the UK may be in breach of its international obligations. Humphreys further suggested that the government is failing to meet its responsibilities by neglecting to launch an independent investigation into these companies’ activities to determine if they should be restricted.
The largest beneficiary of UK public funds among the identified firms is Motorola Solutions, a US-based technology giant. Its British subsidiaries, including Airwave Solutions, account for approximately 1.7 billion pounds ($2.3bn) of the total contract value. The United Nations Human Rights Office has previously identified Motorola Solutions and its Israeli subsidiary, Motorola Solutions Israel Ltd, as being involved in activities related to the settlements, specifically the supply of surveillance and security equipment. Procurement documents from the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council and the Ariel municipal corporation confirm that Motorola technology is embedded in settlement infrastructure. Additionally, 2005 UN reports noted that the company provided surveillance systems to settlements such as Hebron, Karmei Tzur, and Bracha. Motorola Solutions did not respond to requests for comment regarding these findings.
Heidelberg Materials is another major entity identified in the analysis, holding 25 public-sector contracts in the UK worth 184.79 million pounds ($252m). The UN has flagged the company for its commercial exploitation of natural resources in occupied territory. Specifically, its subsidiary, Hanson Israel, operates the Nahal Raba quarry south of Qalqilya in the West Bank. Official Civil Administration records indicate that plans have been approved to expand this site, which sits on Palestinian land. The research group Who Profits has highlighted the company’s role in the regional economy, while Heidelberg maintains that Hanson Israel operates within the scope of its legal obligations.
The investigation also highlights the involvement of Fosun International, which owns the cosmetics brand Ahava. Ahava has been described by civil rights groups, such as the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, as being complicit in the exploitation of Palestinian land and livelihoods. A European Commission statement from 2018 confirmed that Ahava maintained operations in the Mitzpeh Shalem settlement. According to the American Friends Service Committee, the company’s former factory in Mitzpe Shalem remained operational as of 2026, with Dead Sea mud excavated from occupied territory being processed at the site. A subsidiary of Fosun, Breas Medical, currently holds two UK public-sector contracts valued at 1.29 million pounds ($1.76m).
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticized the government’s economic ties, stating that the findings reveal a stark contradiction between the UK’s stated foreign policy and its financial actions. “Quite simply, the UK government is propping up apartheid,” Corbyn remarked, asserting that the country deepens its complicity in the situation daily. While the UK government recently issued a statement warning businesses against bidding for construction tenders in illegal settlements—citing potential legal and reputational consequences for involvement in serious breaches of international law—the Cabinet Office maintained that decisions to exclude suppliers are made on a case-by-case basis by individual public authorities. The report also notes that a German multinational building materials company; the French engineering group Egis; the Spanish train manufacturer CAF and Chinese conglomerate Fosun, other contracts we reviewed are held by firms within four other corporate groups including Heidelberg Materials. The report also notes that egis and CAF are involved in Jerusalem’s expanding light-rail network – a project activists say entrenches Israel’s control by integrating settlements into the city while further fragmenting Palestinian neighbourhoods. The report also notes that embargoes or restrictions are in place, it said public procurement in the UK should not be used to boycott suppliers linked to other countries unless formal UK sanctions. The report also notes that here’s what we found about some of the companies involved in settlement trade. The report also notes that contacted the Motorola Solutions group for comment but received no response. The report also notes that motorola’s subsidiaries are entrusted with providing communications equipment to the emergency services in the UK. The report also notes that fire and ambulance services across England, Scotland and Wales, the Home Office awarded Airwave an extension worth 1.562 billion pounds ($2.13bn) to provide the secure communications network used by police. The report also notes that including a 36.5-million-pound ($49.8m) Ministry of Defence contract for Airwave radios, accessories and airtime, motorola Solutions UK separately holds contracts worth 123.9 million pounds ($170m).
