Snapshot:

In November 2023, NGOS filed a criminal complaint against Booking.com in the Netherlands. They accuse the company of allegedly profiting from listing rental properties in Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. The complaint alleges that Booking is introducing proceeds of crime into the Dutch financial system, therefore violating Dutch anti-money laundering rules. Booking said it disagreed with the allegations. The case is ongoing.

Legal argument

The criminal complaint alleges that Booking.com is in violation of Dutch criminal law, particularly Article 1(4) of the Dutch International Crimes Act. The claimants argue that by “by facilitating the rental of vacation homes on land stolen from the indigenous Palestinian population, Booking.com profits from war crimes.” and that Booking.com is effectively introducing proceeds of crime into the Dutch financial system, making the company liable for money laundering. They contend that the Dutch Public Prosecution Service has a responsibility to uphold the integrity of the Dutch financial system by prosecuting these actions, which involve profiting from war crimes and laundering the resulting proceeds.

Booking said it disagreed with the allegations.

Legal Proceedings

In November 2023, the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Al-Haq, SOMO, and The Rights Forum filed a criminal complaint against Booking.com with the Dutch Public Prosecution Service . In May 2024, the Dutch Public Prosecutor said it had the intention to investigate the complaint. The case is ongoing.

News items

CSOs file criminal complaint in the Netherlands against Booking.com for allegedly profiting from Israeli settlement listings, Reuters, 29 May 2024

Merle Sandhop, Maastricht U. Faculty of Law, on Jurist, 24 May 2024,

Is Booking.com profiting from war crimes in Palestine?, Justiceinfo.net, 23 May 2024

NGOs

Booking.com accused of laundering profits from Israeli war crimes in Palestine , SOMO, 23 May 2024

Booking.com sued for laundering profits from Israeli war crimes in Palestine , Al-Haq, European Legal Support Center (ELSC), The Rights Forum and SOMO, 22 May 2024