Dutch Public Prosecution Service Sued Over Booking.com’s Profiting from War Crimes in Occupied Palestinian Territory

Coalition of Human Rights Organizations Files Criminal Complaint Against Booking.com

AMSTERDAM, May 23, 2024 - A coalition of human rights organizations has filed a criminal complaint with the Dutch Public Prosecution Service against Booking.com for profiting from war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT).

Background

The complaint alleges that Booking.com is knowingly facilitating the rental of vacation homes on land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population, thereby profiting from war crimes. This illegal activity violates Dutch criminal law, specifically Article 1(4) of the International Crimes Act.

Booking.com’s Complicity in War Crimes

Booking.com has been aware of the legal risks involved in its activities but has chosen to continue offering accommodations in illegal Israeli settlements despite being blacklisted by the UN Human Rights Council since 2020. The company’s complicity in these violations has been highlighted by human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Goal of the Complaint

The goal of this criminal complaint is to end Booking.com’s involvement in international crimes on stolen Palestinian land and to hold the company accountable for its role in profiting from war crimes. It also aims to expose the climate of corporate impunity surrounding businesses that operate in illegal Israeli settlements.

Settlements: Illegal Under International Law

Settlements are illegal under international law, based on systematic human rights violations, and acts amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court is investigating Israeli settlement construction, and European governments have warned companies operating in these areas about the legal risks.

Response from Booking.com

Booking.com has disputed the allegations, claiming that there is no law prohibiting listings in Israeli settlements. However, the company’s involvement in these violations contravenes widely recognized business and human rights norms, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Demands

The organizations behind this complaint are demanding that Booking.com stop violating the law and cease its operations in illegal Israeli settlements. They also urge the Dutch government to take meaningful action against companies profiting from these crimes and to end the climate of impunity surrounding their activities.

Quote

“This case is a measure of last resort,” said Willem Jebbink, attorney at Jebbink Soeteman Advocaten. “We expect this case to serve as an example to other companies profiting from war crimes.”

Conclusion

The filing of this criminal complaint marks a significant step towards holding Booking.com accountable for its role in profiting from war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory. The coalition of human rights organizations demands that Booking.com cease its illegal activities and that the Dutch government take action to end the climate of impunity surrounding these violations.