Fri Sep 26 13:01:16 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article rewrite based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The United Nations has expanded its list of companies deemed complicit in violating Palestinian human rights due to their business ties with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Nearly 70 companies have been added, bringing the total to 158, primarily Israeli firms but also including those from the US, Europe, and Asia. These companies operate in sectors like construction, security, travel, and finance. The UN’s action has been met with criticism from Israel, particularly as it faces increasing international scrutiny and isolation amidst the ongoing conflict.

**News Article:**

**UN Expands Blacklist of Companies Complicit in Israeli Settlement Activity**

**Geneva – September 26, 2025** – The United Nations has significantly expanded its list of companies accused of violating Palestinian human rights through their business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The updated “database of companies,” released today, now includes 158 firms from 11 countries, marking an addition of nearly 70 companies to the controversial list.

The companies are primarily involved in activities that directly or indirectly support the settlements, which are widely considered illegal under international law. These include vendors of construction materials, providers of security services, and firms in the travel and financial sectors. Notable additions to the list include German building-materials giant Heidelberg Materials, Portuguese rail systems provider Steconfer, and Spanish transportation engineering firm Ineco.

Several US-based travel companies, including Expedia Group, Booking Holdings Inc., and Airbnb, Inc., remain on the list. While 68 companies were added, seven were removed after reassessment.

The UN’s decision has drawn immediate condemnation from Israel, which has long opposed the creation and maintenance of the database. The move comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Israel faces increased international pressure and scrutiny over its conduct in the ongoing conflict and as some European nations have recognized a Palestinian state. The expanded blacklist is likely to further strain relations between Israel and the international community.

The UN Human Rights Council initially passed a resolution to establish the database nearly a decade ago. According to sources within the UN, hundreds more companies could be scrutinized in future assessments.

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