Heidelberg Materials
German construction materials giant operating the Nahal Raba quarry in the occupied West Bank through subsidiary Hanson Israel. Added to the UN OHCHR database in September 2025 for 'use of natural resources' from occupied territory to build Israeli settlements, which human rights organisations characterise as pillage under international law.
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UN OHCHR database listing (September 2025) for settlement activities. Under German law (VStGB), extraction of natural resources from occupied territory for the occupier's benefit may constitute pillage - a war crime under international humanitarian law. Personal criminal liability potential for directors under universal jurisdiction, as documented by Al-Haq legal analysis. ICJ Advisory Opinion (July 2024) confirmed Israeli settlements are unlawful and third parties must not provide assistance.
Documented hypocrisy: claims withdrawal from Nahal Raba while securing expansion approval in May 2025. Al-Haq 'Violations Set in Stone' campaign has sustained international attention. Association with operations the ICJ has determined constitute an unlawful occupation.
Multiple pension fund exclusions: KLP (Norway, 2015), PFA Pension (Denmark, 2015), Sampension (Denmark). Swedish AP Funds, Norwegian Government Pension Fund have settlement company exclusion triggers. UN database listing activates automatic exclusion policies.
Quarry expansion approval contradicts public withdrawal claims, creating investor relations exposure. Supply chain to settlements documented by Human Rights Watch and Who Profits. Materials traced to settlement construction, separation wall, and prison facilities.
Strategic Analysis
In-depth assessment of the company's position, vulnerabilities, and recommended approaches for effective engagement.
High severity, high vulnerability — campaigns with the best chance of making an impact
Learn about our methodology — companies are categorised based on severity (harm potential) vs strategic vulnerability (campaign leverage).
Why do these scores change?
Unlike static boycott lists, our targeting model is dynamic. This company's position on the matrix is re-evaluated continually as we verify new contracts, divestments, or policy changes. Your reporting directly impacts this score.
Heidelberg Materials represents a high-value B2B target with exceptional legal vulnerability. The company's September 2025 addition to the UN OHCHR database of settlement-linked businesses creates automatic exclusion triggers for institutional investors with UN-aligned ESG policies. As a German-headquartered company, Heidelberg Materials faces potential criminal liability under universal jurisdiction for what Al-Haq and other human rights organisations have characterised as pillage - the extraction of natural resources from occupied territory for the occupier's benefit, which constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law.
Key Leverage Points
- UN Database Listing: September 2025 inclusion in OHCHR database of 158 companies facilitating settlement activities. Triggers automatic exclusion by pension funds with UN-aligned policies (Norwegian Government Pension Fund, Swedish AP Funds).
- Proven Divestment Precedent: KLP Norway (2015) and PFA Pension Denmark (2015) already divested citing international law violations. Model exclusion decisions provide templates for other institutional investors.
- German Universal Jurisdiction: Under Germany's Code of Crimes Against International Law (VStGB), extraction of natural resources from occupied territory may constitute the war crime of pillage. Directors face potential personal criminal liability as documented by Al-Haq legal analysis.
- Hypocrisy Gap: Company claims Nahal Raba quarry has been 'closed' since November 2023, yet secured expansion approval in May 2025 adding 100,000 sqm. This contradiction undermines corporate credibility and ESG claims.
Documented Impact
Heidelberg Materials' subsidiary Hanson Israel has operated the Nahal Raba quarry since 1989 on 515,000 square metres of confiscated Palestinian land belonging to villages of Al-Zawiya and Rafat. The Al-Haq/SOMO report 'Violations Set in Stone' documents that quarry operations result in 'loud explosions' day and night, covering neighbouring Palestinian communities with dust, affecting crops and air quality. Human Rights Watch documented that Hanson trucks deliver materials directly to Israeli settlements, the Barkan Industrial Zone, and the Gilboa prison complex.
The July 2024 ICJ Advisory Opinion confirmed that Israel's occupation is unlawful and that third states must not 'render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation.' Companies extracting resources from occupied territory for settlement construction directly contravene this ruling. The September 2025 UN database listing provides international recognition of Heidelberg Materials' role in facilitating these illegal activities.
Engagement Strategy
Focus campaigns on institutional investors with ESG mandates, particularly Nordic pension funds with settlement exclusion policies. Emphasise the UN database listing as a trigger event requiring exclusion reviews. For German stakeholders, highlight potential criminal liability under universal jurisdiction. Contact procurement officers at infrastructure projects requiring ethical sourcing standards. Coordinate with Al-Haq, SOMO, and Who Profits who maintain ongoing monitoring and advocacy. The goal is institutional investor exclusion and supply chain pressure, leveraging the company's vulnerability to ESG-focused capital and German legal exposure.
Evidence & Sources
Verified sources including NGO reports, regulatory filings, and primary documents. Use these to substantiate your correspondence.
Added to UN database of 158 companies facilitating Israeli settlement activities. Listed for 'use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes' in occupied territory.
Open sourcePalestinian human rights organisation commends OHCHR for adding Heidelberg Materials after years of documented advocacy. Notes company 'actively pillages Palestinian quarries on appropriated Palestinian lands.'
Open sourceDocuments Nahal Raba quarry operations since 1989 on confiscated Palestinian lands. Notes May 2025 expansion approval despite company claims of closure. Tracks deliveries to settlements, Barkan Industrial Zone, and prison facilities.
Open sourceInternational Court of Justice determines Israel's continued presence in occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful. Third states must not render aid or assistance maintaining the illegal situation.
Open sourceHRW investigation documenting evidence that Hanson Israel continues to deliver building materials to settlements, 'deepening the company's role in sustaining and expanding settlements.'
Open sourceComprehensive report documenting HeidelbergCement's complicity in pillaging natural resources from Nahal Raba quarry. Details land confiscation, environmental damage, and international law violations.
Open sourceDocuments environmental and human rights violations including dust pollution affecting Palestinian communities, exploitation of confiscated land, and provision of materials for illegal settlements.
Open sourceDenmark's largest pension fund ($50bn AUM) excludes HeidelbergCement citing 'violation of basic human rights, which conflicts with UN Global Compact principles 1 and 2.'
Open sourceNorway's largest pension fund (NOK 813bn AUM) divests, stating operations 'are associated with violations of fundamental ethical norms' and 'provide a strong incentive to prolong a conflict.'
Open sourceUpdates & Milestones
- Added to UN OHCHR Database
UN Human Rights Office adds Heidelberg Materials to database of 158 companies facilitating settlement activities. Listed for resource extraction in occupied territory.
- Expansion Plan Finalised
Plan 52/14/2 receives final approval on July 4, 2025. Total plan area: 432,000 sqm on lands of Al-Zawiya and Rafat villages.
- Expansion Approved Despite Claims
Israeli Civil Administration approves Plan 52/14/2 adding 100,000 sqm for quarrying. Company claims this 'does not change current status' of 'closed' operations.
- Expansion Objections Submitted
Objections to Plan 52/14/2 submitted to Israeli Civil Administration Planning Bureau by Palestinian communities and human rights organisations.
- Company Claims Quarry 'Inactive'
Heidelberg Materials states Nahal Raba quarry has been inactive since November 2023. However, expansion plans proceed.
- Rebrand to Heidelberg Materials
HeidelbergCement rebrands as Heidelberg Materials. West Bank operations continue unchanged under Hanson Israel subsidiary.
- Human Rights Watch Investigation
HRW documents evidence of continued material deliveries to settlements, contradicting company claims of ethical operations.
- Al-Haq/SOMO 'Violations Set in Stone' Published
Comprehensive report documents HeidelbergCement's complicity in pillaging Palestinian natural resources. Submitted to UN OHCHR for database consideration.
- PFA Pension Denmark Excludes
Denmark's largest pension fund ($50bn) blacklists HeidelbergCement for 'violation of basic human rights' and 'illegal activities in relation to the occupation.'
- KLP Norway Divests
Norway's largest pension fund (NOK 813bn) excludes HeidelbergCement for exploitation of natural resources in occupied territory. Cites international law violations.
- HeidelbergCement Acquires Hanson
German company acquires British firm Hanson plc, becoming owner of Nahal Raba quarry through Hanson Israel subsidiary (99.98% ownership).
- Nahal Raba Quarry Operations Begin
Quarry operations commence on confiscated Palestinian lands belonging to villages of Al-Zawiya and Rafat in the occupied West Bank.