Key facts
- The BDS movement and partners urged Murphy Oil to surrender its six Zone G licenses, held 50-50 with Ratio Energies.
- Zone G covers about 1,700 square kilometers of seabed near the Leviathan gas field, with Murphy as operator.
- Eni withdrew from Zone G earlier in 2026, and Israel's Energy Ministry announced Dana Petroleum's exit on November 9, 2026.
- Campaigners cite a July 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Israel's use of natural resources in occupied territories.
- Murphy and Ratio have 36 months to drill an exploration well in Zone G.
- Murphy announced four production sharing contracts covering about 2.6 million acres offshore Cameroon on November 11, 2026.
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and partner groups called on Murphy Oil on November 11, 2026 to give up the six Zone G exploration licenses it holds in a 50-50 partnership with Israel's Ratio Energies. The licenses cover about 1,700 square kilometers of seabed near the Leviathan gas field, and Houston-based Murphy is the operator.
Israel awarded Zone G in October 2023 to Eni, Ratio and Aberdeen-based Dana Petroleum, a subsidiary of state-run Korea National Oil Corporation. Eni withdrew earlier in 2026, citing a reallocation of investments, and Israeli financial daily Globes reported that pro-Palestinian pressure also made the company reluctant to enter Israel. Israel's Energy Ministry announced Dana's exit on November 9, 2026, according to Korea's Yonhap news agency. Murphy replaced both on the same day.
Dana had faced protests in Aberdeen and a complaint to South Korea's Board of Audit and Inspection. According to the civic group that filed the complaint, the board closed the case after finding that the licensing process had stopped and that Dana plans to withdraw. Dana and KNOC have not commented. Israeli media have reported that Dana can rejoin with regulatory approval.
Campaigners in Scotland, South Korea and Italy claimed both exits as wins and urged investors, insurers and contractors to stay out of the project. They argue that part of Zone G overlaps maritime boundaries Palestine declared in 2019, which Israel does not recognize, and cite a July 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion that found Israel's exploitation of natural resources in the occupied territories unlawful. "Murphy Oil, which has now taken the place Dana and Eni abandoned, should expect exactly the same treatment," said Dave Black of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Murphy has not responded publicly to the campaign. On November 11, 2026, it announced four production sharing contracts covering about 2.6 million acres offshore Cameroon. Murphy and Ratio have 36 months to drill an exploration well in Zone G. Ratio also holds 15% of Leviathan, which supplies Egypt under a $35 billion export contract.