Maersk divests from companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements in West Bank

Danish shipping giant Maersk announced its decision to divest from companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement on their website, dated June 2025, Maersk said, “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 United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights lists the name of companies that operate in the settlements, where about 500,000 Israelis reside in a blatant violation of international law.

This decision also comes after Yemen’s Houthis have targeted Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea for nearly two years in what they say is in solidarity with Palestinians.

The Iran-backed Houthis have regularly fired missiles and drones at Israel since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023.

Last year, Spain banned Maersk ships carrying military goods to Israel from using its ports.

In May 2024, Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente said the foreign ministry had denied a request to dock by the Danish-flagged ship Marianne Danica, saying it “was carrying weapons to Israel.”

The refusal to allow the Marianne Danica to dock at the Mediterranean port of Cartegena came just days before Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized a Palestinian state on May 28.

Spain stopped its own defense companies from shipping arms to Israel in October 2023.