Fosun International

Ahava is an Israeli cosmetics company that produces skincare products using minerals and mud from the Dead Sea. Its primary manufacturing facility and visitor center are located in the illegal Mitzpe Shalem settlement in the occupied West Bank. This site is on land confiscated from Palestinian communities and falls under Israeli military occupation, making the company’s operations a violation of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Ahava's extraction of natural resources from occupied territory has been described as pillage under international law by watchdog groups like Who Profits and Human Rights Watch. The company has also received subsidies from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism to expand its operations and promote settlement tourism. These entanglements make Ahava a clear target for the BDS movement, which launched the Stolen Beauty campaign in 2009 to expose the brand's role in profiting from occupation.

Ahava’s products have been dropped by major retailers in response to boycott campaigns. In the UK, department store John Lewis stopped selling Ahava after pressure from Palestine solidarity groups. In Canada, The Bay removed the brand from its shelves. A rumor that Sephora dropped Ahava due to boycott pressure was proven false, but the brand has seen declining international shelf space regardless.

In 2016, Ahava was acquired by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International. However, the company's manufacturing and extraction operations remain in the occupied West Bank, and it continues to identify as an Israeli company.