Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
UK awarded £10.7m in contracts to firms linked to West Bank settlements
UK public bodies awarded £10.7m in contracts to companies linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The contracts include 14 worth £10.4m involving subsidiaries of German building materials group Heidelberg Materials.
The United Nations named the group in its September 2026 settlement index update over its commercial use of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The contracts were published after the UK government announced new powers on September 8 to sanction companies profiting from settlement activity, which is illegal under international law.
The findings raise questions about whether public money is still going to firms that could face sanctions.
The UK government says public bodies decide whether to exclude suppliers case by case, and the Cabinet Office did not comment on the latest findings.
The UK awarded £10.7 million in public contracts to firms linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to an Al Jazeera investigation.
The investigation found 18 additional contracts were published after the government announced new powers to sanction companies profiting from settlement activity.
Three subsidiaries of Heidelberg Materials were named in 14 contracts worth £10.4 million, mostly for roadworks and resurfacing in England.
The UK government says public bodies decide whether to exclude suppliers on a case-by-case basis, unless formal sanctions or restrictions apply.
Critics say continuing to award contracts to firms linked to settlements undermines the government’s stated approach.
- Who
- UK public bodies awarded contracts to companies linked to West Bank settlements, including Heidelberg Materials subsidiaries.
- What
- They awarded £10.7 million in public contracts, according to an Al Jazeera investigation.
- When
- The contracts were published after the government announced new powers on September 8. The investigation was published on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- The contracts were awarded across the UK; Heidelberg Materials subsidiaries received contracts for work in Nottingham and Lincolnshire, England.
- Why
- The contracts were for public-sector work, mostly roadworks and resurfacing in the Heidelberg subsidiaries’ case. The sources do not state why the public bodies selected the companies.
UK government position
Critics of continued contracts
Procurement policy
UK government position
The Cabinet Office said public bodies decide whether to exclude suppliers on a case-by-case basis and that procurement should not be used to boycott suppliers unless formal sanctions or restrictions apply.
Critics of continued contracts
Jeremy Corbyn said contracts continuing through public procurement undermine the government’s stated sanctions policy.
Impact of settlement links
UK government position
The Cabinet Office said restrictions depend on formal British sanctions, embargoes or other restrictions.
Critics of continued contracts
Neve Gordon said companies involved in the occupation are likely to breach their legal obligations under international humanitarian law.
An earlier Al Jazeera investigation reported that at least 17 settlement-linked companies had received UK public-sector contracts worth more than £2.1 billion.
Ed Miliband told the House of Commons the government would take action against companies and individuals providing services for settlement expansion.
Heidelberg Materials was included in the UN’s settlement index update for its commercial use of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territory.
UK public bodies published details of 18 additional contracts with companies linked to settlements.
Al Jazeera published its investigation into the contracts.
- Total contract value
- £10.7 million ($14.4 million)
- Additional contracts
- 18
- Heidelberg subsidiaries
- Three named in 14 contracts
- Heidelberg contract value
- £10.4 million
- Heidelberg contract locations
- Nottingham and Lincolnshire, England
What people are saying
To those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this: you will face the full force of UK sanctions … Settlements are illegal.
Britain cannot credibly claim that it is imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements while letting contracts continue through the back door.
Any UK company that is involved in the occupation is likely to be in direct breach of the sanctions regime Ed Miliband is putting in place