‘It’s like stealing’: Palestinian family’s seized property listed on Booking.com
Summary
A Palestinian family’s former farmland near Bethlehem is now part of an Israeli settlement called Neve Daniel, where rental properties are listed on Booking.com. A US advocacy group reported that Booking.com offers numerous listings in Israeli settlements located in occupied West Bank areas, which international law views as illegal settlements. There is a legal complaint in the Netherlands alleging that these bookings may involve illegal activities under Dutch law.Key Facts
- Mohammad al-Sbeih’s family once farmed land near Bethlehem that is now used for the Israeli settlement Neve Daniel.
- Booking.com lists rental properties located on lands within 14 Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including areas around East Jerusalem.
- International law, including the fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute, considers Israeli settlements in occupied territories illegal.
- A US-based group, Ekō, reported these listings and filed a criminal complaint in the Netherlands against Booking.com.
- The complaint claims the rental business linked to settlements may involve money laundering under Dutch law.
- The International Court of Justice advised countries and organizations not to recognize Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory as legal.
- Israel disputes the application of the Geneva Conventions in the West Bank and challenges the ICJ’s authority.
- Booking.com added a small advisory label about conflict risks near settlements but does not prominently warn about the settlements on individual listings.
- Airbnb also offers listings in settlements and briefly stopped before resuming after legal challenges.
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