A United Nations expert has urged several global companies to cut ties with Israel, warning they risk being complicit in war crimes committed in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory, presented her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, in which she accused Israel of operating what she termed “an economy of genocide” and using the conflict with Hamas as a testing ground for weapons and surveillance technologies with no accountability.

“To our neighbours downstream – Egypt and Sudan – our message is clear: the Renaissance Dam is not a threat, but a shared opportunity,” she said.

Albanese, an Italian international lawyer known for her direct approach, did not mince words.

On Thursday, she repeated earlier claims, stating that Israel is “committing one of the cruellest genocides in modern history.”

Her report lists well-known corporations allegedly involved in enabling Israeli military operations. Among them are weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin, and tech giants Alphabet, IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon, accused of supplying tools used to monitor and target Palestinians.

The report also names Caterpillar, Hyundai, and Volvo, claiming their machinery has been used to demolish homes and destroy communities.

Financial institutions such as BNP Paribas and Barclays were also mentioned, with allegations of underwriting Israeli treasury bonds during the conflict.

Lockheed Martin responded that all foreign military sales are conducted through government-to-government arrangements, and questions should be directed to the US government.

Volvo dismissed Albanese’s accusations, saying they were based on "insufficient and partly incorrect information." It stated its commitment to human rights but added that once products are sold and change hands, control over their use is limited.

Albanese said, “All the companies should stop dealing with Israel immediately,” arguing that their business activities directly support the continuation of the war. The report says the partnerships are highly profitable but contribute to an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

While the report holds no legal power, it has sparked reactions globally.

Albanese referenced apartheid-era South Africa as a precedent, suggesting that global pressure on companies helped dismantle an oppressive regime and could again become a powerful tool against injustice.

She also raised the legal risks for companies involved. Complicity, under international law, involves participating in actions that foreseeably contribute to genocide, even without intent to commit it.

Albanese hinted that businesses selling goods or services that assist Israel’s military effort could be vulnerable to legal scrutiny.

Her report comes as the International Court of Justice considers a genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa.

Some international legal experts have privately warned European governments that continuing arms sales to Israel could expose them to complicity charges.

Israel dismissed the report as “groundless, defamatory and a flagrant abuse of office,” and has long accused Albanese of hostility and antisemitism. It maintains it is acting in self-defence against Hamas and strongly denies any acts of genocide.

Despite Israel's dismissal, Albanese’s report was received with support from many member states. Countries from Africa, Asia, and the Arab region backed her recommendations and condemned the treatment of international lawyers like Albanese. Several also supported the view that Israel is committing genocide.

Some European nations, typically more aligned with Israel, criticized the blockade of aid to Gaza and reminded Israel of its responsibility as an occupying power to provide for Palestinian civilians.

The United States, Israel’s strongest ally, withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council during Donald Trump's presidency and responded by accusing Albanese of leading “an unacceptable campaign of political and economic warfare against the American and worldwide economy.”

While the US government may not respond further, multinational companies named in the report — many with operations and consumers in countries that supported the report — may begin to reconsider their positions.