Francesca Albanese’s Report (Part I): Unveiling Corporate Complicity in Israel’s “Economy of Genocide”

The release of the investigative report A/HRC/59/23 by United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese not only ignited global debate but also led to her sanctioning by the United States. The report, correspondingly this article, is divided into two parts: Part I, focuses on the corporate machinery facilitating militarized violence, surveillance, and the destruction of Palestinian life and infrastructure, showcasing how commercial interests contribute to dispossession and severe endangerment. Part II of her report, which will be explored separately, delves into the Economy of Replacement.

Part I: The Corporate Machinery of Displacement and Violence

The investigative report, A/HRC/59/23, by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, details the extensive involvement of corporate entities in sustaining Israel’s settler-colonial project. The report asserts that this involvement has escalated, transitioning from supporting an “economy of occupation” to fueling an “economy of genocide.”

The article summarizes and clarifies the report’s findings shedding light on, how commercial interests have facilitated the dispossession, displacement, and genocide severe endangerment of the Palestinian people.

The Special Rapporteur’s investigation systematically outlines the intricate connections between various corporate sectors—including arms manufacturing, technology, construction, finance, and tourism—and Israel’s prolonged occupation, particularly in the context of intensified military actions since October 2023. The foundational argument is, these corporate activities are integral to Israel’s “settler-colonial twofold logic of displacement and replacement.” A historical pattern where commercial interests drive the removal of indigenous populations and their substitution with new infrastructure and populations.

Arms and Atrocity: The Militarized Economy of Genocide

The report (Page 7 and Para 29), identifies the military sector as a central driver of this “economy of genocide,” noting that militarized violence is fundamental to Israel’s settler-colonial project. Both Israeli and international arms manufacturers have developed and refined advanced weaponry, which is then “battle-proven” in the occupied Palestinian territories through prolonged occupation and military campaigns.

This process creates a lucrative cycle, as these technologies, including air defense platforms, drones, and AI-powered targeting tools, are subsequently marketed globally, after being battle-tested on the innocent Palestinian civilians.

Key Israeli companies, such as Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries (ranked among the top 50 global arms manufacturers), have experienced significant profit increases, benefiting from a 65% surge in Israeli military spending since October 2023. International partners also play a crucial role.

For instance, the F-35 program, led by U.S.-based Lockheed Martin, involves global manufacturing of components and parts, contributing significantly to Israel’s aerial capabilities. These F-35s and F-16s have been utilized to deploy an estimated 85,000 tons of bombs on Gaza, resulting in widespread destruction and casualties.

Drones, primarily supplied by Elbit Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, are described as “omnipresent killing machines.” Their evolution, supported by collaborations with institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, includes automated weapon systems and swarm capabilities.

The report also highlights the involvement of a complex network of intermediaries, such as legal, auditing, and consulting firms, and shipping companies like Denmark’s A.P. Moller Maersk A/S, which facilitate the transport of military equipment.

Algorithmic Enablers: Tech Companies and Mass Surveillance

The report reveals how technology companies contribute to the automation of repression by providing dual-use infrastructure for mass data collection and surveillance. Major U.S. tech firms, including IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprises (HPE), HP Inc., and Microsoft, maintain substantial operations in Israel. Their contributions support advanced surveillance networks, biometric data collection, and discriminatory permit systems that affect Palestinians.

Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract awarded to Alphabet Inc. (Google) and Amazon.com, Inc., provides essential cloud and AI infrastructure to the Israeli military. The report indicates that Israel-based servers for these services contribute to data sovereignty and may act as a “shield from accountability.” Artificial intelligence systems, such as “Lavender” and “Gospel,” are used to generate target lists, demonstrating the dual-use nature of AI in military operations (Page 11, para 42). Palantir Technologies Inc. is specifically noted for increasing its support to the Israeli military post-October 2023, offering predictive policing technology and real-time battlefield data integration. A controversial statement by a Palantir CEO, “mostly terrorists, that’s true,” in response to accusations of Palestinian deaths in Gaza, is cited as evidence of executive awareness regarding the unlawful use of force.

Bulldozers of Displacement: Repurposing Civilian Equipment

The report documents the repurposing of ostensibly civilian heavy machinery for settler-colonial destruction.

For decades, Caterpillar Inc. has supplied Israel with equipment used for demolishing Palestinian homes and infrastructure. The Caterpillar D9 bulldozer, for example, has been transformed into a remote-commanded military weapon, used to “neutralize” territory and clear incursion routes. Post-October 2023, Caterpillar equipment has been observed in mass demolitions in Gaza, including the destruction of homes, mosques, and critical infrastructure, with allegations of wounded Palestinians being buried alive.

Other significant manufacturers, such as Korean HD Hyundai (and its subsidiary Doosan) and Swedish Volvo Group, are also implicated, as their machinery has been used in the extensive urban destruction in Gaza, including the flattening of areas like Rafah and Jabalia (Page 13, para 46).

Reflecting on Corporate Complicity

This investigative report lays bare a deeply troubling reality: corporate entities are not merely bystanders, but active profiteers and alleged enablers in the systematic displacement and genocidal-violence against Palestinians. The described “economy of genocide” illustrates how arms manufacturers, tech giants, and even heavy machinery suppliers are experiencing surging profits, their technologies and equipment “battle-proven” and refined through what the report frames as prolonged occupation and military campaigns.

The cold, calculated application of AI for targeting, the use of drones as “killing machines,” and the repurposing of civilian equipment for mass destruction resonate with chilling historical echoes of complicity, reminiscent of corporations that benefited from atrocities during the Holocaust. This profound moral decay demands immediate and rigorous accountability. The international community must move beyond condemnation to concrete action, ensuring these corporate firms face severe consequences for their alleged role in facilitating human rights violations and the potential aiding and abetting of genocide.

Conclusion

The Special Rapporteur’s report serves as a stark and urgent call to action, demanding global introspection into the intricate web of corporate interests allegedly fueling and profiting from the ongoing human rights crisis in the Palestinian territories. By meticulously detailing how various sectors contribute to what is described as an “economy of genocide,” the report challenges the international community to move beyond diplomatic statements, and hypocritical stance, and implement concrete measures.

The imperative now is to ensure robust accountability for these corporate entities, compelling them to cease their alleged complicity and face justice for actions that enable immense human suffering. Only through such decisive steps can the international community uphold its commitment to human rights and prevent the further normalization of corporate involvement in systematic oppression.