Mohammad al-Sbeih holds documents proving his family’s ownership of land in the West Bank, where a property is now being rented out via Booking.com. The home, located in the Israeli settlement of Neve Daniel, is described on the platform as “ideal for outdoor gatherings” with a picnic area and scenic surroundings.
Family Land Seized for Settlement
Al-Sbeih’s fondest childhood memories are of the small farm in the hills south of Bethlehem, where three generations grew wheat and barley. “It was a hard plot to farm as it was on a hillside with terraces, but it was so beautiful,” he recalls. Today, the houses and roads of Neve Daniel occupy that land, and the expansive view towards the sea is the main selling point of the rental.
Report Highlights 41 Listings
A new report by Ekō, a US-based advocacy group, identifies 41 Booking.com listings in 14 illegal Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank. These are concentrated in the Jordan Valley and the settlement ring around East Jerusalem, including two inside Jerusalem’s Old City. The transfer of civilians into occupied territory violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute, which classify such colonization as a war crime.
Booking.com’s main operating arm is headquartered in the Netherlands, where a criminal complaint by the European Legal Support Center is under review. The complaint argues that settlement-linked bookings may constitute money laundering under Dutch law, as the underlying activity is connected to illegal settlements.
International Legal Context
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion in 2004 confirming the illegality of settlements and obligating states not to recognize their legality. Israel, a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, argues they do not apply to the West Bank because Jordanian rule was not internationally recognized. Airbnb also lists settlement properties, despite a 2018 announcement to stop, which was reversed after legal challenges.
In 2022, Booking.com introduced small-print labeling advising guests to consult government advisories about conflict-affected areas. A spokesperson said: “Our mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world… we believe it’s not our place to decide where someone can or cannot travel.”
Family’s Long Legal Battle
Al-Sbeih’s family has been losing legal battles since their five hectares were seized in 1982. “We brought all our documents… the other side brought nothing,” he said. The seizure was upheld on national security grounds. The land lay empty for two decades before being absorbed by Neve Daniel. Al-Sbeih could no longer show his family the land after movement restrictions imposed during the Gaza war in 2023.
When Ekō researchers showed him the Booking.com listing, he cried. “I thought it should be my children and grandchildren in that beautiful spot… when you steal $10, it’s like stealing a million dollars.”
