Does BP support Israel?

Won six offshore natural-gas exploration licenses in Israel's "Cluster I", northwest of the Leviathan field, in a joint venture with Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR (operator) and Israel's NewMed Energy — awarded by Israel's Energy Ministry on October 29, 2023, weeks into the Israel–Hamas war. War-related delays meant the consortium formally took up the license only in March 2025, with a seismic survey vessel scheduled to begin exploration work in September 2026.

BP holds 30.1% of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan Company (BTC Co), the ten-shareholder consortium that owns the 1,768-kilometre BTC pipeline, and is not its largest shareholder — BP's own shareholder list puts AzBTC at 32.97%. The pipeline carries Azerbaijani crude through Georgia to the Ceyhan terminal in southern Turkey, from where it is shipped on to international markets including Israel. BP operated the Azerbaijani and Georgian sections on behalf of BTC Co's shareholders, with the Turkish section operated by BOTAŞ International Limited, until 1 July 2026, when operatorship of all three sections passed to SOCAR Midstream Operations, a SOCAR subsidiary; BP remains a shareholder and keeps operatorship of the Sangachal terminal. The Guardian reported on 23 December 2024 — describing BP as owning and operating the pipeline — that it provides 28% of Israel's crude oil supply. The same day, Palestinian claimants working with Bindmans LLP and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians sent BP a letter before claim, asking that any case be heard in a British court and alleging that by operating the pipeline BP is complicit in the war in Gaza and in breach of its own human-rights commitments. Those are the claimants' allegations; no court has ruled on them. BP did not respond to requests for comment from The Guardian or Middle East Eye. This is BP's own commercial operation — not a donation, aid, or a statement of support.