UK firms linked to West Bank settlements win millions in public contracts

British public bodies have awarded more than 14 million dollars in new contracts to companies with ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, despite recent government pledges to sanction such entities. An investigation by Al Jazeera found that these awards were published after the UK government announced new powers to penalize firms profiting from settlement activity.

The analysis of procurement records and corporate filings revealed that businesses named by the United Nations for their involvement in illegal settlements, along with their subsidiaries, have secured work across the British public sector. Neve Gordon, a professor at Queen Mary University of London, stated that these companies appear to be in breach of their legal obligations under international humanitarian law. He noted that any UK company involved in the occupation is likely in direct breach of the sanctions regime being implemented by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.

This finding follows a previous report in August which identified at least 17 companies linked to West Bank settlements that had been awarded UK public sector contracts worth over 2.1 billion pounds. On September 8, 2026, Miliband told the House of Commons that the government would take action against specific companies and individuals providing services for settlement expansion. He warned that those financing or facilitating illegal settlements would face the full force of UK sanctions.

Since that announcement, UK public bodies have published details of 18 additional contracts with firms linked to illegal settlements. Jeremy Corbyn, a former Labour Party leader and MP, described the continued flow of public money to these firms as outrageous and insulting. He argued that Britain cannot credibly claim to impose sanctions while allowing contracts to proceed through the back door.

The Cabinet Office, which oversees government procurement, did not respond to recent comments but had previously stated that individual public authorities decide on supplier exclusions case by case. The office maintained that UK public procurement should not be used to boycott suppliers linked to other countries unless formal sanctions or embargoes are in place.

Heidelberg Materials, a German multinational building materials firm, is one group listed in the UN’s September 2026 settlement index. Three of its subsidiaries were named in 14 contracts worth approximately 14.5 million dollars, primarily for roadworks in central eastern England. The group holds at least 35 UK contracts worth about 261 million dollars across five subsidiaries. Its Israeli subsidiary, Hanson Israel, owns a quarry on land belonging to Palestinian villages, though the company said it ceased operations there in 2023.

Motorola Solutions, which provides communications for the police service, has also won new contracts worth about 118,000 dollars. The company accounts for the largest share of identified contracts by value, totaling approximately 2.28 billion dollars. Much of this value comes through its UK subsidiary Airwave Solutions, which provides the secure communications network for emergency services across England, Scotland, and Wales. The UN lists Motorola for providing security equipment and services used in the occupied West Bank.

Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, identified by the UN for its commercial use of natural resources, has also secured new work. Its subsidiary Breas Medical obtained a contract worth 131,000 dollars with Hull hospitals. This brings the total value of public sector contracts held by the Fosun group to at least 1.74 million dollars. Fosun did not respond to requests for comment.

French engineering group Egis, which is listed by the UN for providing transport infrastructure linking settlements in East Jerusalem, also won a new contract. The award was given to its subsidiary Thomas & Adamson International Limited for 113,000 dollars. This brings the total value of public contracts held by Egis and its subsidiaries to at least 179.3 million dollars. Egis told Al Jazeera that it formally expressed its disagreement with its inclusion in the UN database.