It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (2025)

The views from the balcony of Igal Canaan's home look like they've been lifted from the pages of National Geographic.

Sprawling desert mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, cradled by clear blue skies, creating a serene moonscape panorama.

Mr Canaan markets the short-term holiday rental property as a "room with view" but there's a problem with the destination.

The property is in an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, making it illegal according to international law.

Human rights lawyers say that should get Mr Canaan's property and others like it banned from being advertised on platforms like Booking.com and are taking action against the company.

It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (1)

Mr Canaan's rental properties are in the Israeli settlement of Nofei Prat, about 20 kilometres from Jerusalem.

He says it's a matter of opinion as to whether he is breaking international law.

"It's one interpretation of the international law, because by international law, it's completely illegal," he says.

"But we show it from our point of view. This area of what you call the West Bank, is Judea and Samaria, the original Israel … the mountains of Judea and the desert of Judea and Jerusalem and Samaria."

This is also how the Israeli government refers to the area where its law considers the settlements to be legal.

These settlements are spread throughout the Occupied West Bank and house more than an estimated half a million Israelis, who often enjoy substantially superior amenities and infrastructure compared to their Palestinian neighbours.

It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (2)

Lawyers from the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, SOMO and The Rights Forum have filed a criminal complaint in the Netherlands, alleging Booking.com is profiteering from the commission of war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Booking.com was founded and is headquartered in Amsterdam, where Dutch law prohibits companies and individuals from profiteering from war crimes.

Legal officer Daan de Grefte from ELSC claims that Booking.com is taking profits from illegal Israeli settlements, including land stolen from the local Palestinian population.

"We think that the settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are the result of war crimes, mainly two war crimes," he said.

"First, the unlawful appropriation of adversary property. And second, the transfer of civilians into occupied territory. Without those two war crimes, settlements could not have been established.

"So our argument is that any money derived from those settlements is also indirectly derived from those war crimes."

It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (3)

The group of lawyers has referred the case to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, which is examining whether to lay criminal charges against Booking.com.

In the West Bank, Mr Canaan says his holiday properties are incredibly popular and are booked nearly every weekend, and throughout major holidays.

He says the main base of his visitors are from within Israel, but also advertises to international tourists on multiple online platforms.

"About 30 per cent of the whole are people coming from abroad by Booking.com, Airbnb and Hotels.com, these kinds of platforms," Mr Canaan said.

"Booking.com wants to do business with us as they like to do business with Palestinians or Arabs.

"They don't put their heads in who is right and who is wrong. They want to do business everywhere."

It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (4)

The human rights lawyers estimate there are around 70 active holiday property listings in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

Mr de Grefte said Booking.com also had a moral and ethical obligation not to profit from illegal Israeli settlements.

"Booking.com has committed to respecting certain human rights in its human rights statement, which was quite recently updated," he said.

"It very clearly says that it does not want to contribute to any adverse human rights impacts, especially on local communities in places where they operate.

"Well I think it's very clear that many very authoritative human rights organisations … have documented very, very extensively … that a company cannot be active in Israeli illegal settlements and still not contribute somehow to adverse human rights impacts."

On its website, Booking.com lists Mr Canaan's property, and others in the areas, as being located in the "Palestinian territory" inside and "Israeli settlement" but does not provide any description those settlements are considered illegal under international law.

It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (5)

Booking.com did not answer specific questions from ABC News but said the company was monitoring the legal situation and taking the matter seriously.

"Our mission at Booking.com is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world and as such we believe it's up to travellers to decide where they want and need to go," a spokesperson said.

"If a particular region may be categorised as disputed or conflict affected, and as such may pose greater risks, we include information to help make sure travellers can make their own informed decisions, or at least check the official travel guidelines of their government as part of their decision making process."

It's a home with a serious view. But human rights lawyers say Booking.com should be banned from advertising it (2025)

FAQs

Why is booking.com being boycotted? ›

They accuse the company of money laundering in connection to war crimes, as the enterprise profits from renting out accommodation in Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.

Is booking.com owned by Israel? ›

Booking.com B.V. is one of the world's leading digital travel companies based in the Netherlands. The company is fully owned by Booking Holdings Inc..

Is there a problem with booking com at the moment? ›

Booking.com Connectivity API status page. Get real-time updates on how our APIs are doing. All our APIs are up and running with no known issues. There are no open incidents right now.

Who is behind booking com? ›

Booking.com
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Area servedGlobal
OwnerBooking Holdings
CEOGlenn Fogel
IndustryTravel agency
12 more rows

Does Expedia own booking com? ›

Expedia owns Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotwire, eBookers and CheapTickets, while Booking Holdings comprises Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Kayak, Cheapflights, Rentalcars, Momondo and OpenTable.

Does Southwest own booking com? ›

booking.com has a partnership with Southwest, but their ownership is completely unrelated/unconnected. If you want to get help with your issue you'll need to contact booking.com, Southwest Airlines has no control or ability to help with your complaints.

What country is booking from? ›

About Booking.com™ Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch start-up to one of the world's leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com's mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

Why is booking.com on the Bds list? ›

@airbnb and @bookingcom allow listings on occupied Palestinian territory and are complicit in Israel's apartheid and violations of Palestinian rights—which is why they are targets of the BDS movement.

Is booking com being hacked? ›

At the time, Booking.com strenuously denied its system has been hacked, instead blaming the messages on breaches in the email systems of its partner hotels. But the affected hotels complained that this could not have taken place at their end. Australians lost a record $3.1bn to scams in 2022, up from $2bn in 2021.

Has anyone sued booking com? ›

Booking.com Owner Sued by Texas on Alleged Deceptive Practices. Defendant & Allegations: Booking Holdings Inc., the parent company of Booking.com, has been sued by the state of Texas for purported deceptive trade practices related to the advertisement of hotel room prices.

Who is the competitor for booking com? ›

Booking.com's competitors
  • Booking.com.
  • Orbitz.
  • TripAdvisor.
  • KAYAK.
  • Expedia Group.
  • Airbnb.

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