diff --git a/docs/stories/epic-123/STORY-123.17-publish-claude-settings-contract.md b/docs/stories/epic-123/STORY-123.17-publish-claude-settings-contract.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..766b6ce1ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/stories/epic-123/STORY-123.17-publish-claude-settings-contract.md
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# STORY-123.17: Publicar settings Claude no pacote core
+
+## Status
+
+Done
+
+## Story
+
+Como release manager do AIOX Core, quero que o pacote npm publique o `.claude/settings.json` junto com hooks, regras e agentes Claude, para que correções em settings versionado também cheguem ao artefato consumível.
+
+## Acceptance Criteria
+
+- [x] AC1. `package.json.files` inclui `.claude/settings.json`.
+- [x] AC2. `scripts/validate-package-completeness.js` exige `.claude/settings.json` no tarball.
+- [x] AC3. `npm pack --dry-run` inclui `.claude/settings.json`.
+- [x] AC4. O smoke npm publicado consegue validar os comandos shell-neutral dentro do pacote instalado.
+
+## Tasks
+
+- [x] Atualizar contrato de publicação em `package.json`.
+- [x] Atualizar validador de completude do pacote.
+- [x] Rodar gates de pacote e validações de release.
+
+## Dev Notes
+
+- A correção de STORY-123.16 chegou ao repositório, mas o smoke mostrou que `.claude/settings.json` não fazia parte do tarball npm. Como o pacote já publica `.claude/CLAUDE.md`, `.claude/hooks/`, `.claude/rules/`, `.claude/agents/`, `.claude/commands/` e `.claude/skills/`, publicar o settings fecha a superfície Claude distribuída.
+
+## Validation
+
+- `git diff --check` -> PASS.
+- `node scripts/validate-package-completeness.js` -> PASS, 32/32 required package paths.
+- `npm pack --dry-run --json` -> PASS, inclui `.claude/settings.json`.
+- `npm run validate:publish` -> PASS.
+- `npm run validate:semantic-lint` -> PASS.
+- `npm run validate:manifest` -> PASS.
+- `npm run lint -- --quiet` -> PASS.
+- `npm run typecheck` -> PASS.
+- `npm run test:ci` -> PASS, 315 suites / 7.847 tests.
+
+## File List
+
+- `package.json`
+- `package-lock.json`
+- `scripts/validate-package-completeness.js`
+- `docs/stories/epic-123/STORY-123.17-publish-claude-settings-contract.md`
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 47cea1752f..357672f63a 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@aiox-squads/core",
-  "version": "5.1.11",
+  "version": "5.1.12",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@aiox-squads/core",
-      "version": "5.1.11",
+      "version": "5.1.12",
       "license": "MIT",
       "workspaces": [
         "packages/*"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 145c3e8ffb..6d712a9a6b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@aiox-squads/core",
-  "version": "5.1.11",
+  "version": "5.1.12",
   "description": "Synkra AIOX: AI-Orchestrated System for Full Stack Development - Core Framework",
   "bin": {
     "aiox": "bin/aiox.js",
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     "packages/",
     ".aiox-core/",
     ".claude/CLAUDE.md",
+    ".claude/settings.json",
     ".claude/agents/",
     ".claude/commands/",
     ".claude/skills/",
diff --git a/scripts/validate-package-completeness.js b/scripts/validate-package-completeness.js
index 8e21a01be7..758a9fb504 100644
--- a/scripts/validate-package-completeness.js
+++ b/scripts/validate-package-completeness.js
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ const REQUIRED_PATHS = [
   // Hooks (critical - these were missing in v4.0.0)
   '.claude/hooks/synapse-engine.cjs',
   '.claude/hooks/precompact-session-digest.cjs',
+  // Claude Code project settings
+  '.claude/settings.json',
   // Rules
   '.claude/rules/',
   // CLI binaries
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ const EXCLUDED_PATHS = [
  */
 const REQUIRED_FILES_ENTRIES = [
   '.claude/hooks/',
+  '.claude/settings.json',
   '.claude/rules/',
   '.aiox-core/',
   'bin/',
@@ -211,7 +214,12 @@ function validatePackageJson(pkg) {
   const filesArray = pkg.files || [];
 
   for (const entry of REQUIRED_FILES_ENTRIES) {
-    const found = filesArray.some((f) => f === entry || f.startsWith(entry));
+    const found = filesArray.some((f) => {
+      if (entry.endsWith('/')) {
+        return f === entry || f.startsWith(entry);
+      }
+      return f === entry;
+    });
     check(
       `files[] includes "${entry}"`,
       found,