The United Nations human rights office has added 61 more companies to a list it claims are involved in human rights violations in the Palestinian territories through their business connections with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. This brings the total number of listed companies to 214, with most of them located in 11 different countries. In the most recent update, five of the 158 companies listed last year were removed from the list. The list, first published in 2020, was created after a vote by the UN’s human rights council, which does not have the legal power to force companies to change their behavior. Instead, the list aims to publicly identify and criticize businesses that support the settlements. The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, emphasized in a statement that the report serves as a reminder to companies of their human rights responsibilities. He said they are expected to conduct due diligence to avoid involvement in human rights violations or abuses. In response, Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva "categorically rejected" the publication of the list. It called the database an "ugly attempt to blacklist Israeli firms" and claimed the list targets businesses that have not committed any wrongdoing. The UN office has informed the listed companies of their inclusion and given them the opportunity to respond. The latest report comes at a time when Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas are facing increased scrutiny. Earlier this month, the United Kingdom announced a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, citing "settler terrorists" carrying out "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians. France and Canada have also announced similar measures, indicating a growing international concern over the situation in the region.