Human rights org. seek charges against Booking.com over Israeli settlement rentals

Human rights organizations are asking a court in The Hague to compel Dutch prosecutors to bring criminal charges against Booking.com after the Public Prosecution Service has not issued a decision in 2.5 years over allegations tied to holiday rentals in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The Rights Forum, together with Al-Haq, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), and SOMO, has initiated an Article 12 procedure at the Court of Appeal in The Hague. The legal mechanism asks the court to order the Public Prosecution Service (OM) to proceed with prosecution. The court will now decide whether the complaint should lead to criminal charges. Neither the court nor the OM has commented on the substance of the case.

At the center of the complaint are allegations that Booking.com is involved in money laundering through the rental of accommodations located in Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. The Rights Forum argues the company profits from illegal settlements and that funds earned through these activities constitute money laundering in the Netherlands.

The OM previously said it was carefully reviewing the complaint. Human rights groups say no decision has followed since then, despite 2.5 years passing. Daan de Grefte, chief lawyer at the European Legal Support Center, said the complaint followed calls from Palestinians whose homes were “stolen” and turned into “profitable vacation homes for settlers” listed on Booking.com. He also said efforts by human rights organizations, activists, and concerned employees within the company have been “systematically ignored.”

A spokesperson for Booking.com said: “Although we have not yet received official confirmation of a formal complaint, we are closely monitoring the situation and will cooperate with relevant authorities where necessary.”

“At the same time, we take into account possible changes in laws and regulations and continue to strictly apply the principles and processes in our Human Rights Statement, as we do in all disputed or conflict-affected areas around the world,” the spokesperson added.