- ARAB NEWS
- 30 Apr 2025
Since 1975
DUBAI: South Korean vehicle brand Hyundai has come under fire for its alleged complicity in Israeli operations that violate Palestinian rights.
Human rights organizations Amnesty International and Democracy for the Arab World Now have documented instances where Israeli forces employed Hyundai Construction Equipment (Hyundai CE) machinery to demolish Palestinian properties in the occupied West Bank.
These demolitions have led to the displacement of Palestinian families and are considered violations of international law.
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement has included Hyundai in its list of companies targeted for boycott due to these actions.
Several organizations have called on Hyundai CE to suspend its distribution in Israel until measures are implemented to prevent the use of its equipment in such activities.
Hyundai CE issued a response in March 2023, stating that it is “not engaged in Israeli settlement activities.”
However, the company did not provide details about its human rights due diligence process or how it ensures its equipment is not used in violations of international law.
Despite the denials, Hyundai machinery was featured demolishing Palestinian homes in several videos on social media.
On March 27, Montse Ferrer, a representative of Amnesty International, said in a statement that such demolitions have led to the forced displacement of approximately 250 Palestinians and adversely affected the livelihoods of hundreds more.
Ferrer emphasized the broader implications of these actions, stating that demolitions serve as a key tool in maintaining what she described as Israel’s system of apartheid.
“It is imperative that HD Hyundai takes decisive action to immediately suspend distribution of its products in Israel & conduct heightened due diligence to ensure its operations don’t perpetuate human rights abuses”
— Amnesty Business & Human Rights (@AmnestyBHR) March 27, 2025
Montse Ferrer, Deputy Regional Director, Amnesty International
According to a post on X, she further urged HD Hyundai to take decisive action by immediately suspending the distribution of its products in Israel and conducting enhanced human rights due diligence to prevent their use in violations of international law.
