Shipping Giant Maersk Quits Companies Associated to Israeli Settlements
Maersk is under scrutiny due to its vessels carrying military equipment.
Maersk will end relations with companies associated with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupation West Bank, the Danish shipping company has stated.
The decision comes after months of pressure from activists on Maersk concerning issues that concern Palestine.
The shipments of Maersk are being scrutinized in the context of a global campaign by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) which is a grassroots organization. The group has focused its attention on the Maersk shipments of US military sales to foreign countries but PYM has also looked into the transportation of cargo that is destined for settlements by companies.
A statement on Maersk’s website Maersk web site in June 2025, reads, “Following a recent review of transports related to the West Bank, we further strengthened our screening procedures in relation to Israeli settlements, including aligning our screening process with the OHCHR database of enterprises involved in activities in the settlements.”
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) database contains companies involved in a variety actions related to the settlements, like offering services, equipment or financial transactions which support illegal settlements.
If asked for more details on the decision, Maersk directed Al Jazeera to the statement on its website. It’s not clear which of the companies Maersk had connections to.
Israel has constructed over 100 settlements in the in the occupied West Bank that are home to around 500,000 settler. These settlements, which are illegal in international legal terms, span from tiny outposts, to larger communities that have modern infrastructure.
