Booking.com Faces Scrutiny Over West Bank Settlement Rentals

Booking.com is listing 41 rental properties located in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to a report by the U.S.-based advocacy group Ekō. The report includes a property in the Neve Daniel settlement south of Bethlehem that a Palestinian family, the al-Sbeihs, says was built on their seized ancestral land. Ekō said the listings are clustered along the Jordan Valley, including the Dead Sea, and in the settlement ring around East Jerusalem.

The report and related legal filings have renewed scrutiny of how major travel platforms handle listings in territories under dispute. International bodies have long criticized settlement activity in the West Bank, while Israel disputes key legal claims cited by critics.

Booking.com said its mission is to facilitate travel globally and that it does not determine where individuals can travel. The company said it continues to monitor legal and operational risks in disputed and “conflict-affected” areas.

The listing highlighted in the report is described as having outdoor space and scenic views, while the al-Sbeih family says the site matches land they own and where they once farmed. The report says the geolocation of the property corresponds with the family’s land claims.

Dutch complaint alleges money-laundering risk tied to settlement stays

The European Legal Support Center has filed a criminal complaint with Dutch prosecutors concerning Booking.com’s settlement-related listings. The complaint argues that settlement-linked bookings could amount to money laundering under Dutch law because the underlying commercial activity is connected to settlements that international bodies regard as illegal under international law.

The complaint is under review by Dutch prosecutors, according to the report. Booking.com’s main operating arm is headquartered in the Netherlands, which is central to the complaint’s jurisdictional argument.

Critics point to a 2004 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, issued at the request of the U.N. General Assembly, which addressed the legal status of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. Israel disputes the applicability of the Geneva Conventions to the West Bank and has contested the ICJ’s jurisdiction in the matter.

Labeling added in 2022; other platforms also host listings

Booking.com introduced labeling in 2022 for properties in settlements, advising potential guests to consult government advisories to make an informed decision about staying in an area it describes as “conflict-affected.” The report says the warning appears in small print and is shown only when searching by settlement name, not on individual property pages.

Airbnb also lists properties in West Bank settlements, according to the report. Airbnb said it would stop advertising rentals in settlements in 2018 but later reversed that decision after legal challenges.

The dispute over settlement listings has broader implications for travel and online-platform policies in politically contested territories, particularly where legal interpretations differ across jurisdictions. Dutch prosecutors’ handling of the complaint and any changes to platform disclosure practices will be closely watched.