UN adds 61 firms to settlements blacklist over alleged human rights violations against Palestinians

Israel categorically rejects' publication and says businesses on database have committed no wrongdoing

The UN human rights office has added 61 more companies to a blacklist of firms that it says are involved in violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The vast majority of the total 214 companies, which are based in 11 countries, are Israeli. Five of the 158 companies listed last year were removed in the latest update.