HUMAN rights organisations have launched legal action against Airbnb over claims the company is profiting from illegal Israeli settlements.
The three groups – Global Legal Action Network (Glan), Sadaka, and Al-Haq - have launched the co-ordinated action against Airbnb's Irish and UK subsidiaries, as well as its US parent company.
Glan and Al-Haq filed a criminal complaint with the UK's National Crime Agency over the company's UK subsidiary, accusing Airbnb of alleged money laundering in connection with payments for accommodation in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
In the US, an attorney for Glan has sent a "preservation letter" to Airbnb's parent company, instructing it to preserve documents relevant to the company's involvement in the settlements.
The move could support action being taken in the UK, and in Ireland by Sadaka, which is challenging a decision taken by Irish police not to investigate Airbnb Ireland and its senior executives for what it says is alleged criminal involvement in Israeli settlements.
According to an investigation by the Guardian earlier this year, there are more than 300 accommodations listed in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with a third of all Airbnbs in the West Bank located in settlements.
Airbnb is also listed on the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) database of businesses involved in activities in Israeli settlements in the OPT.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and that all states must prevent trade or investment that support the occupation.
An Airbnb spokesperson told The National that the company operates "in compliance with applicable laws in Ireland, the UK and the US".
They added: "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."
The company's response was criticised by Ashish Prashar, a former advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy now working as a special adviser to Glan on Palestine.
Prashar condemned Airbnb's use of the words "disputed territories" when discussing Israeli settlements, saying it "undermines Palestinian sovereignty and reinforces the Israeli occupation of the land".
He told The National: "It actively supports the cruel domination of the Palestinian people, which is a clear breach of international law."
Prashar said that the groups believe they will be successful, adding: "It's a very strong case which could set a precedent with major global consequences for businesses with direct and indirect ties to Israeli settlements.
"It could lead to a full BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] moment where it's safer for companies who don't want to be charged with war crimes or executives charged with war crimes, to actually withdraw, not just from the Occupied Territories or from Israel, but from doing any business with Israel because it could be illegal in any possible way."
Gerry Liston, Glan senior lawyer, commented: “These are the first ever cases to apply anti-money laundering legislation to business activity in the illegal Israeli settlements.
"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 offence.”
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 – i.e., those located in the OPT, including the settlements, and in Israel.
"It is time to end Israel’s impunity and take action.”
