BNP Paribas sued for "failure" to comply with duty of care due to its support for Israeli activities in Gaza

By The New Obs with AFP

Published on June 27, 2025 at 12:16 p.m. , updated on June 27, 2025 at 2:08 p.m.

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A legal association announced on Friday, June 27, that it had taken BNP Paribas to court for "failure to fulfill its duty of care," accusing the banking group of having failed to mention activities supporting Israel , particularly in the context of its military offensive in Gaza.

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The law requires large French companies to publish a vigilance plan to prevent, in particular, environmental risks and human rights violations linked to their activities.

"However, far from respecting these obligations, BNP Paribas, in its 2024 vigilance plan, did not deign to mention the very existence of its activities in support of the State of Israel or companies arming the State of Israel," said the association Jurists for the Respect of International Law (Jurdi) in a press release.

"Indeed, the guarantee provided by BNP Paribas for the successful completion of an $8 billion bond subscription operation for the benefit of the Israeli government is not included. Nor is its support for the company Elbit Systems, which is the main supplier of arms to the State of Israel," she said.

The association, which brings together lawyers and magistrates, claims to have formally notified BNP Paribas in December 2024 to amend its vigilance plan, something the banking group refused to do in March. It has therefore decided to take the matter to the Paris judicial court.

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