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Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
An Airbnb in a war zone? Global holiday rental giant facing legal action over offering stays in 100s of homes in illegal Israeli settlements
Airbnb is facing serious legal heat as human rights groups demand the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) launch a criminal investigation into the global rental giant over alleged money laundering links to Israeli settlements. According to a damning new complaint, Airbnb have breached UK anti-money laundering laws by listing more than 300 holiday rentals in illegal Israeli settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem - territories widely recognised as occupied under international law. The complaint, brought forward by the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Palestinian rights organisation Al-Haq, was officially filed with the NCA on Tuesday. The groups accuse Airbnb's UK arm of handling profits from crimes committed under international law - namely, the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land. But Airbnb's operations in the region are no secret. In fact, the company appears on the United Nation's blacklist of companies involved in activities tied to Israeli settlements - areas the UN, and now the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have declared illegal. In a landmark ruling in July 2014, the ICJ stated Israel 's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal under international law. The court further ruled that all states have a duty to end trade and investment that supports the occupation, a damning blow to any company still profiting from it. Yet, Airbnb appears to have continued to operate in these areas. Ashish Prashar, former UK senior advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy and current a special advisor to GLAN on their Palestine Portfolio, told MailOnline: 'By bringing this case against Airbnb, what we're saying is that no one, no business, no company, no entity, should make profits from war crimes'. Ashish Prashar, former UK senior advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy and current a special advisor to GLAN on their Palestine Portfolio, told MailOnline: 'By bringing this case against Airbnb, what we're saying is that no one, no business, no company, no entity, should make profits from war crimes'. As of 2023, there are currently over 300 listed properties up for rent in occupied territories which Al-Haq have displayed in a settlement watch infographic. Al-Haq's Forensic Architecture Investigation Unit (FAI) conducted an in-depth investigation into Airbnb listings located in illegal Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank. 'This investigation uncovered how Israeli settlers exploit resources and infrastructure systematically denied to Palestinians, including by using accommodation platforms like Airbnb to sustain their illegal presence on stolen Palestinian land,' the organisation's website reads. But despite the unraveling controversy, Prashar claims as a business, Airbnb have a choice in who they carry out business with and are willingly choosing to rent out properties on 'stolen land' and with 'an entity that's being accused of genocide right now'. 'The fact that Airbnb are willing to continue the charade, are willing to continue to extract money from war crimes, says a lot about Brian Chesky (Airbnb's CEO), says a lot about the leadership of the company and says a lot about the board and everyone else who's responsible for these decisions,' he said. Echoing Prashar's concerns, Shawan Jabarin, general director of Al-Haq, said: 'At a time when we are witnessing genocide in Palestine, businesses like Airbnb are providing services that deny the Palestinian people their means of subsistence, threatening the viability of the group. 'Following the finding by the International Court of Justice, that Israel's occupation is illegal, business activities trading in goods and services that maintain the illegal occupation, must come to an end.' Despite earlier pledges, Airbnb has a patchy track record. In November 2018, following heavy criticism from Human Rights Watch, Airbnb promised to 'act responsibly' and remove all listings in illegal Israeli settlements. But less than six months later, in April 2019, the company quietly reversed its decision under legal pressure from Israeli hosts and US-based guests. It instead vowed to donate profits from Israeli settlement listings to humanitarian causes. An Airbnb spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Airbnb operates in compliance with applicable laws in Ireland, the UK, and the US. 'Since 2019, Airbnb has donated all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank to an international nonprofit, in line with our global framework on disputed territories'. Critics claim this is not good enough. 'By continuing to let out properties on behalf of Israelis, who illegally occupy on stolen land, or even in some cases stolen homes from Palestinians, [Airbnb] are supporting that occupation. Airbnb listing a property in the West Bank is a breach of that ruling. They're in breach of international law,' Prashar said. 'They are basically saying: "We're cool with the Palestinians being dominated because we're going to make a quick buck of it and donate some of the rest of the money",' he added. Zainah el-Haroun, a spokesperson for Al-Haq also said the donation 'misses the point entirely'. 'It is not enough to simply donate profits. Companies are morally and legally bound to ensure their activities do not support, maintain or benefit for Israel's unlawful occupation,' Haroun said. 'No charitable donation can undo the underlying human rights harms caused by facilitating any aspect of Israel's unlawful occupation.' Human rights lawyers have said the donations do not cleanse the company of criminal liability. 'These are the first ever cases to apply anti-money laundering legislation in the UK and elsewhere to business activity in the illegal Israeli settlements,' Gerry Liston, a senior lawyer at GLAN said. 'They demonstrate that senior executives of companies profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory risk prosecution for a very serious criminal offence'. Alongside the UK complaint, GLAN has filed a legal challenge in Ireland after police there refused to investigate Airbnb Ireland's role in facilitating listings in the settlements. GLAN has also sent a 'preservation letter' to Airbnb's parent company in the US - a key move under American legal procedures that could pave the way for discovery of internal documents. A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency declined to confirm whether it would investigate, telling Middle East Eye: 'The NCA does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations.' In the Netherlands, a similar case led by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has also been brought against which like Airbnb lists properties in the illegal Israeli settlements. has been approached for comment. ELSC joined GLAN, Sadaka and AL-Haq at the launch of the complaint at a press conference in Dublin on June10, 2025. But with mounting legal pressure from coordinated actions across the UK, US, and Ireland, Airbnb's global business model is now under unprecedented scrutiny.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE An Airbnb in a war zone? Global holiday rental giant facing legal action over offering stays in 100s of homes in illegal Israeli settlements
Airbnb is facing serious legal heat as human rights groups demand the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) launch a criminal investigation into the global rental giant over alleged money laundering links to Israeli settlements. According to a damning new complaint, Airbnb have breached UK anti-money laundering laws by listing more than 300 holiday rentals in illegal Israeli settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem - territories widely recognised as occupied under international law. The complaint, brought forward by the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) and Palestinian rights organisation Al-Haq, was officially filed with the NCA on Tuesday. The groups accuse Airbnb's UK arm of handling profits from crimes committed under international law - namely, the ongoing occupation of Palestinian land. But Airbnb's operations in the region are no secret. In fact, the company appears on the United Nation's blacklist of companies involved in activities tied to Israeli settlements - areas the UN, and now the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have declared illegal. In a landmark ruling in July 2014, the ICJ stated Israel 's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal under international law. The court further ruled that all states have a duty to end trade and investment that supports the occupation, a damning blow to any company still profiting from it. Yet, Airbnb appears to have continued to operate in these areas. Ashish Prashar, former UK senior advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy and current a special advisor to GLAN on their Palestine Portfolio, told MailOnline: 'By bringing this case against Airbnb, what we're saying is that no one, no business, no company, no entity, should make profits from war crimes'. Ashish Prashar, former UK senior advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy and current a special advisor to GLAN on their Palestine Portfolio, told MailOnline: 'By bringing this case against Airbnb, what we're saying is that no one, no business, no company, no entity, should make profits from war crimes'. As of 2023, there are currently over 300 listed properties up for rent in occupied territories which Al-Haq have displayed in a settlement watch infographic. Al-Haq's Forensic Architecture Investigation Unit (FAI) conducted an in-depth investigation into Airbnb listings located in illegal Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank. 'This investigation uncovered how Israeli settlers exploit resources and infrastructure systematically denied to Palestinians, including by using accommodation platforms like Airbnb to sustain their illegal presence on stolen Palestinian land,' the organisation's website reads. But despite the unraveling controversy, Prashar claims as a business, Airbnb have a choice in who they carry out business with and are willingly choosing to rent out properties on 'stolen land' and with 'an entity that's being accused of genocide right now'. 'The fact that Airbnb are willing to continue the charade, are willing to continue to extract money from war crimes, says a lot about Brian Chesky (Airbnb's CEO), says a lot about the leadership of the company and says a lot about the board and everyone else who's responsible for these decisions,' he said. Echoing Prashar's concerns, Shawan Jabarin, general director of Al-Haq, said: 'At a time when we are witnessing genocide in Palestine, businesses like Airbnb are providing services that deny the Palestinian people their means of subsistence, threatening the viability of the group. 'Following the finding by the International Court of Justice, that Israel's occupation is illegal, business activities trading in goods and services that maintain the illegal occupation, must come to an end.' Despite earlier pledges, Airbnb has a patchy track record. In November 2018, following heavy criticism from Human Rights Watch, Airbnb promised to 'act responsibly' and remove all listings in illegal Israeli settlements. But less than six months later, in April 2019, the company quietly reversed its decision under legal pressure from Israeli hosts and US-based guests. It instead vowed to donate profits from Israeli settlement listings to humanitarian causes. An Airbnb spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Airbnb operates in compliance with applicable laws in Ireland, the UK, and the US. 'Since 2019, Airbnb has donated all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank to an international nonprofit, in line with our global framework on disputed territories'. Critics claim this is not good enough. 'By continuing to let out properties on behalf of Israelis, who illegally occupy on stolen land, or even in some cases stolen homes from Palestinians, [Airbnb] are supporting that occupation. Airbnb listing a property in the West Bank is a breach of that ruling. They're in breach of international law,' Prashar said. 'They are basically saying: "We're cool with the Palestinians being dominated because we're going to make a quick buck of it and donate some of the rest of the money",' he added. Zainah el-Haroun, a spokesperson for Al-Haq also said the donation 'misses the point entirely'. 'It is not enough to simply donate profits. Companies are morally and legally bound to ensure their activities do not support, maintain or benefit for Israel's unlawful occupation,' Haroun said. 'No charitable donation can undo the underlying human rights harms caused by facilitating any aspect of Israel's unlawful occupation.' Pictured: A vehicle moves along a partially-demolished road ahead of an Israeli military armoured bulldozer during an army operation in the Palestinian refugee camps in Tulkarem in the northwest of the occupied West Bank on April 16, 2025 Pictured: Children walk past a damaged car along a street that was bulldozed by Israeli troops in an eastern neighbourhood of the occupied-West Bank city of Jenin, during an ongoing Israeli military operation on February 13, 2025 Human rights lawyers have said the donations do not cleanse the company of criminal liability. 'These are the first ever cases to apply anti-money laundering legislation in the UK and elsewhere to business activity in the illegal Israeli settlements,' Gerry Liston, a senior lawyer at GLAN said. 'They demonstrate that senior executives of companies profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory risk prosecution for a very serious criminal offence'. Alongside the UK complaint, GLAN has filed a legal challenge in Ireland after police there refused to investigate Airbnb Ireland's role in facilitating listings in the settlements. GLAN has also sent a 'preservation letter' to Airbnb's parent company in the US - a key move under American legal procedures that could pave the way for discovery of internal documents. A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency declined to confirm whether it would investigate, telling Middle East Eye: 'The NCA does not routinely confirm or deny the existence of investigations.' In the Netherlands, a similar case led by the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) has also been brought against which like Airbnb lists properties in the illegal Israeli settlements. has been approached for comment. ELSC joined GLAN, Sadaka and AL-Haq at the launch of the complaint at a press conference in Dublin on June10, 2025. But with mounting legal pressure from coordinated actions across the UK, US, and Ireland, Airbnb's global business model is now under unprecedented scrutiny. 'This is not just immoral – we argue that it is illegal,' said statement from GLAN. 'And we are taking action to stop it.'
Gizmodo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Airbnb Needs an ‘Illegal Settlement' Filter, Now
Company accused of war profiteering for allowing listings in Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory. Airbnb has listings all over the world, including, according to a group of human rights organizations, ones in Israel's illegal settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The groups say those rentals violate a promise once made by the company to remove listings in the region and may amount to the company profiting from war crimes. As a result, Airbnb now faces a series of legal actions in the US, UK, and Ireland led by human rights groups over its ongoing operations in the West Bank. The legal challenges are being brought by the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), Sadaka Ireland (the Ireland-Palestine Alliance), and Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq. The groups claim that there are currently over 300 properties listed for rent on Airbnb that are part of Israel's settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which have been deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice. Included in those more than 300 properties, the groups allege, are Palestinian refugee properties that were taken during the Nakba, which expelled nearly one million Palestinians from their homes. The ongoing operations, the groups allege, may amount to 'money laundering by Airbnb of proceeds of Israeli war crimes.' They argue that the Israeli settlements constitute a war crime as they violate the Geneva Conventions and breach several international declarations. As such, the groups claim that Airbnb is facilitating business and handling money that is derived from war crimes, which is considered money laundering under UK and Irish law. The trio of human rights groups first filed a criminal complaint against Airbnb over its business in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in 2023, targeting the company's subsidiary in Ireland. The action, which is still being reviewed by the High Court, would be the first ever to raise alleged complicity in war crimes in an Irish court, according to the groups. Those continued actions in Ireland are now part of a multi-jurisdictional effort, as GLAN and Al-Haq have lodged a criminal complaint with the UK's National Crime Agency against Airbnb over alleged money laundering charges related to the company's collection of payments for rentals in the Israeli settlements. GLAN has also sent a 'preservation letter' to Airbnb's parent company in the United States, instructing it to preserve documents relevant to Airbnb's involvement in the settlements. The goal of the groups is to set a precedent that would discourage businesses from operating directly or indirectly within Israel's illegal settlements. 'These are the first ever cases to apply anti-money laundering legislation to business activity in the illegal Israeli settlements,' GLAN Senior Lawyer Gerry Liston said. 'They demonstrate that individual senior executives of companies profiting from Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory face a personal risk of prosecution for a very serious criminal offense.' Airbnb previously acknowledged that its operation within the Israeli settlements did not meet its own standards for safety and responsibility. In 2018, the company announced that it would remove listings in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in part of an effort to 'act responsibly.' But it reversed that decision in 2019 and has allowed listings in the region ever since. Airbnb claims that those operations do not violate any laws. 'Airbnb operates in compliance with applicable Irish and US laws,' a spokesperson for Airbnb told Gizmodo. 'Since 2019, Airbnb has donated all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank to an international nonprofit, in line with our global framework on disputed territories.' Ashish Prashar, senior advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy, took issue with Airbnb's position. 'The International Court of Justice ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory, that includes the West Bank, is illegal. They ruled that all States must prevent trade or investment that supports that occupation. Airbnb listing property in the West Bank is in breach of that ruling,' he said. 'Calling these 'disputed territories' undermines Palestinian sovereignty, reinforces the Israeli occupation of the land and actively supports their cruel domination of the Palestinian people, which is in clear breach of international law. In Airbnb's response, I see no difference between them and Ambassador Huckabee, who is actively calling for the ethnic cleansing of Occupied Palestine,' Prashar said.
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Groundbreaking' case over Airbnb lettings in West Bank will set precedent for Irish companies, says Senator
A 'groundbreaking' case against Airbnb will set a precedent for legal action against any Irish companies with links to illegal Israeli settlements, an Independent Senator has warned. Frances Black said similar cases will continue to be taken until the Government includes services in the upcoming Occupied Territories Bill . She was speaking on Tuesday as five separate international legal challenges were launched against the company, which pro-Palestinian and human rights activists say is currently managing more than 300 holiday lettings in the West Bank . The strategic action, which includes an Irish court case, is being led by Sadaka, the Ireland-Palestine Alliance and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN). READ MORE The groups said they are seeking a judicial review against a decision by An Garda Síochána's national economic crime bureau not to proceed with a complaint from activists in August 2023. This alleged that Airbnb is in breach of Irish money laundering legislation for profits it has made from lettings in illegal Israeli settlements. According to GLAN, gardaí initially found there had been 'no offence' in this jurisdiction. The group is now challenging that decision. Airbnb's European, Middle East and Africa headquarters is in Dublin. In a statement, a spokesperson for Airbnb said: 'Airbnb operates in compliance with applicable Irish and US laws. Since 2019, Airbnb has donated all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank to an international non-profit, in line with our global framework on disputed territories.' Ms Black, who described the case against Airbnb as a 'groundbreaking legal action', said similar cases will follow if the Government does not legislate to restrict the trading of goods and services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 'This case is hugely important, but Airbnb is just one company. There are many, many others. It should not be left up to brilliant civil society organisations and campaigners to seek to identify individual companies and push them to end their complicity in Israeli war crimes one by one,' she said. 'We need Government to step up and take responsibility, pass full, proper, complete legislation that bans all trade with the illegal settlements in both goods and services for every company, so that cases like this are not necessary.' In 2018, Airbnb announced it would remove more than 200 listings in the occupied West Bank. But it reversed this decision some months later after a US case was taken against it on behalf of hosts who had had their listings removed. Ms Black said Ireland was 'required' under international law not to trade with the Occupied Territories. Speaking at the same event, Ms Black played down her potential candidacy for this year's presidential election. Asked for her thoughts on running as a candidate for an alliance of left-wing parties, she replied: 'There are no thoughts. At this time, it's not something I have even considered.' Ms Black said she was '98 per cent sure' at this point that she would not be running. 'It's just blown way out of proportion,' she said.
France 24
13-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Rights groups urge court to halt UK fighter jet supplies to Israel
Supported by Amnesty, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and others, the Palestinian rights association Al-Haq is seeking a court order to stop the government's export of UK-made components for Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets. Israel has used the US warplanes to devastating effect in Gaza and the West Bank. Outside the High Court in London, around 50 protesters waved Palestinian flags and placards with the words "Stop Arming Israel: Stop the genocide". Inside the packed courtroom, Al-Haq lawyer Raza Husain said the case was "being heard against the backdrop of human calamity unfolding in Gaza, the extremity of which is difficult to convey in words." He argued the government's trade department had unlawfully allowed exports of F-35 parts knowing there was a "clear risk" Israel would use them to commit violations of international law in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied accusations of genocide. The plane's refuelling probe, laser targeting system, tyres, rear fuselage, fan propulsion system and ejector seat are all made in Britain, according to Oxfam, and lawyers for Al-Haq have said the aircraft "could not keep flying without continuous supply of UK-made components." Britain's defence ministry has previously said suspending F-35 licences would "undermine US confidence in the UK and NATO," while in a written submission a lawyer for the government said its actions were "consistent with the rules of international law." It is not certain when a decision could be made following the four-day hearing, which marks the latest stage in a long-running legal battle. 'Loophole' Lawyers for the Global Action Legal Network (GLAN) have said they launched the case soon after Israel's assault on Gaza began, following the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel led by Palestinian militants from Hamas. The lawyers said the UK government had decided in December 2023 and again in April and May 2024 to continue arms sales to Israel, before suspending licences in September 2024 for weapons assessed as being for military use by the Israeli army in Gaza. The new Labour government suspended around 30 of 350 export licences following a review of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law. But the partial ban did not cover British-made parts for the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets. A UK government spokesperson told AFP it was "not currently possible to suspend licensing of F-35 components for use by Israel without prejudicing the entire global F-35 programme, due to its strategic role in NATO and wider implications for international peace and security". "Within a couple of months of coming to office, we suspended relevant licences for the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law in Gaza," they said. But GLAN described the F-35 exemption as a "loophole" which allowed the components to reach Israel through a global pooling system. Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe, a lawyer for GLAN, told a briefing last week the UK government had "expressly departed from its own domestic law in order to keep arming Israel", with F-35s being used to drop "multi-ton bombs on the people of Gaza". The 2023 Hamas-led attack in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, whose figures the United Nations deems reliable. "Under the Genocide Convention, the UK has a clear legal obligation to do everything within its power to prevent genocide," said Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK's chief executive. "Yet the UK government continues to authorise the export of military equipment to Israel.
