The Danish shipping giant Maersk announced Monday that it will sever ties with companies operating in Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank, citing compliance with United Nations human rights guidelines.

The move comes after sustained pressure from the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), a U.S.-based grassroots advocacy group that has urged multinational corporations to cut business ties with entities involved in what it calls Israel’s occupation and ongoing violations of international law.

In its statement, Maersk said it will align its operations with the standards outlined by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which maintains a database of companies involved in Israeli settlements—considered illegal under international law.

“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 company said.

PYM welcomed the announcement but also criticized Maersk for what it described as continued complicity in Israel’s war on Gaza, now entering its 20th month.

“While we continue to demand Maersk be held accountable for their complicity in the genocide through their shipments of military cargo and their role in the F-35 supply chain, this victory shows that when people come together and organize to demand justice, we will always prevail,” PYM said in a statement.

Israel has been using U.S.-supplied F-35 fighter jets in its intensive aerial campaign in Gaza, where more than 90% of buildings have reportedly been destroyed since the war began.

Human rights organizations have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide throughindiscriminate bombing that has led to widespread civilian casualties and the collapse of infrastructure.

Over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing assault, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

A recent PYM report highlighted that, despite a ban on distributing F-35 parts in the Netherlands, Maersk ships carrying military components have continued to dock at the Port of Rotterdam.

The OHCHR database, though nonbinding, has become a key tool for advocacy groups seeking corporate accountability from businesses linked to illegal Israeli settlements. 

Its latest update since June 2023 update has 112 companies listed, including Airbnb and Booking.com.