"Palestinian Organisations Welcome Withdrawal of Eni from Israeli Gas Exploration Consortium, and Encourage Corporations to End Trade in Illegally Occupied Territory", 3rd April 2026

Palestinian human rights organisations Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights (Al Mezan) and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) welcome the news that the Italian Energy company Eni has withdrawn from its energy consortium with Israeli corporation Ratio Energies, ending its plans to engage in gas exploitation in the State of Palestine’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)...

On 29 October 2023, amidst Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Palestinians in Gaza, ENI East Med was awarded exploration rights by Israel for Zone G, a maritime area off the Palestinian coast in Gaza. Notably, 62 percent of Zone G falls within the maritime boundaries declared by the State of Palestine in 2019, in accordance with provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which Palestine is a signatory...

As provided for in Article 55 of the Hague Regulations, Israel is prohibited from exploiting the finite non-renewable resources of the occupied territory, for commercial gain and for the benefit of the Occupying Power, under the rules of usufruct. As a de facto (and illegal) administrative authority in the occupied territory, Israel cannot deplete natural resources for commercial purposes which are not for the benefit of the occupied population and must safeguard the capital of these properties. Moreover, gas exploration and exploitation in Palestine's maritime areas flagrantly violate the fundamental right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, which encompasses permanent sovereignty over its natural resources...

In response to Eni’s withdrawal from Palestinian maritime waters, Al-Haq’s General Director Shawan Jabarin stated: “We strongly welcome the news that Eni has ended its complicity in licenses for the exploitation of Palestine’s natural resources, depleting economic capital necessary for the survival of the Palestinian people, who are being systematically destroyed in Israel’s continuing genocide..."

The two other participating corporations - British company Dana Petroleum, and Israeli company Ratio Petroleum - are still participating in the gas consortium that was licensed for Zone G, and are contributing to the ongoing occupation and exploitation of Palestinian resources. It is essential that these corporations pursue the precedent that has been set by Eni, and seek to immediately terminate their activities in the Palestinian EEZ.