Airbnb is facing serious allegations and a series of legal actions after human rights groups claimed the company continues to profit from rentals located in Israeli settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Despite previously committing to withdraw listings from these areas, Airbnb still has more than 300 properties on its platform situated in settlements that the international community widely considers illegal under international law.
Leading the charge against the company are three organizations: the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), Al-Haq, and Sadaka Ireland. Together, they have launched coordinated legal campaigns in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, aiming to hold Airbnb accountable for what they describe as complicity in violations of international humanitarian law.
According to these groups, some of the listed properties were originally owned by Palestinian families who were forcibly displaced during the 1948 Nakba. During that period, nearly one million Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes. These properties, now part of Israeli settlements, are being rented out to tourists through platforms like Airbnb — a move critics argue amounts to profiting from dispossession.
Profits From War Crimes?
At the heart of the accusations is the claim that Airbnb is effectively laundering money tied to war crimes. The groups argue that renting out homes in territories deemed illegally occupied — and profiting from it — amounts to handling proceeds from criminal activity. Under both UK and Irish anti-money laundering laws, this could constitute a criminal offense.
“This is a landmark moment,” said Gerry Liston, senior lawyer at GLAN. “These are the first cases ever to apply anti-money laundering laws to businesses operating in illegal Israeli settlements. We’re not just talking about reputational damage anymore — there’s a real legal risk for company executives.”
Under international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel’s settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal. The International Court of Justice has reinforced this position, stating that the Israeli occupation violates several international obligations. The human rights groups now argue that Airbnb is enabling and benefiting from this occupation by allowing these rentals to exist and facilitating payments tied to them.
Legal Efforts Across Three Countries
The first legal move against Airbnb came in 2023 when the coalition filed a criminal complaint in Ireland, targeting Airbnb’s Irish subsidiary. If the Irish High Court decides to pursue the case, it would mark the first time a business is prosecuted in Ireland for alleged complicity in war crimes.
The efforts didn’t stop there. In the UK, GLAN and Al-Haq submitted a criminal complaint to the National Crime Agency, citing money laundering violations. Meanwhile, in the United States, Airbnb’s parent company received a legal notice — known as a preservation letter — demanding that it retain any documentation connected to its operations in Israeli settlements. This step indicates a potential for further legal challenges to follow on American soil.
These coordinated actions reflect a larger strategy: to create a legal precedent that would discourage businesses from operating — directly or indirectly — in areas considered illegal under international law.
Airbnb Defends Its Position
Airbnb has responded to the allegations by emphasizing its compliance with local laws in the countries where it operates. A company spokesperson stated, “Airbnb operates in accordance with Irish and U.S. law. Since 2019, all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank have been donated to a nonprofit organization, as part of our global approach to disputed territories.”
The company had earlier acknowledged that its operations in these settlements didn’t meet its own ethical guidelines for responsibility and safety. However, critics argue that such steps fall short, calling them insufficient and merely symbolic.
To opponents, Airbnb’s continued activity in the West Bank suggests tacit support of Israeli settlement expansion — a move many see as entrenching the occupation and displacing Palestinians further.
Condemnation from Peace Advocates
Airbnb’s language and policy around these listings have drawn sharp rebukes from peace advocates and international observers. Ashish Prashar, a senior advisor to the Middle East Peace Envoy, strongly criticized the company’s reference to the West Bank as “disputed territory.”
“The International Court of Justice has ruled clearly — the occupation is illegal,” Prashar said. “All states and companies have a duty to avoid any trade or investment that supports this occupation. By listing properties in Israeli settlements, Airbnb is undermining Palestinian sovereignty and reinforcing a system of domination that international law condemns.”
Prashar added that the company’s attempts to neutralize its role through donations or semantic framing do little to absolve it of its responsibility. “Using the phrase ‘disputed territories’ is not just inaccurate — it actively contributes to injustice.”
