Labour Council’s Palantir Investments Increased 1,200% During Gaza Genocide

Labour-run Camden Council’s investment holdings in Israel-linked tech firm Palantir have increased by more than 1,200% since October 2023, new figures show.

The figures were obtained by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and first reported on by Declassified UK. 

Camden Council’s leader, Sagal Abdi-Wali, is running for Labour against Green leader Zack Polanski in the Holborn and St Pancras byelection on Thursday, hoping to win Keir Starmer’s old seat. Abdi-Wali has led the council since May this year. 

Palantir shares in the council’s local government pension fund were worth £3.65m as of December 2025, up from £276,444 in October 2023. The company has provided Israel’s defence ministry with technology amid the genocide in Gaza. 

The council has holdings in 60 companies accused of complicity in Israeli human rights abuses in Palestine, the new figures also show, and the value of these has risen from £104m to £133.5m since June 2024.

As of 31 December 2025, Camden’s pension fund had more than £2.4bn of registered investments, including more than £10m in defence companies also tied to the Israeli military, including Boeing (£1.69m), Lockheed Martin (£1.12m) and Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems (£46,837). Campaigners have repeatedly called on the council to divest.

In January 2025, more than 4,000 people signed a petition demanding an audit of the pension fund and possible divestment from arms companies, triggering a council debate. The matter was subsequently referred to its pension committee. 

A council-commissioned audit later identified £15.9m of investments across 46 companies as having significant human rights concerns related to conflict zones.

But the council’s wider holdings in companies identified by PSC as complicit in Israel’s occupation and violations of Palestinian rights have continued to rise in value.

Abdi-Wali has not commented on Gaza or divestment, according to a review of her public statements cited by Declassified, and did not respond to requests for comment.

Camden Council’s pension fund investment policy says it is committed to responsible investment.

A spokesperson for the council told Declassified that it has strengthened its approach to environmental, social and human rights concerns.

“We have a duty to act with the best long-term financial interests of members but, alongside this, we also expect environmental issues, social values, and human rights to play a central role in decision-making,” he said.