London: US e-commerce platform Etsy is doing business with dozens of shops located in illegal Israeli settlements, a new report has revealed.
Published jointly by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, Global Justice Now, and War on Want, the report identified at least 44 Etsy stores operating in 16 different settlements deemed illegal by UN and international law as of July.
“Etsy is not only turning a blind eye to stores listed on its site operating in illegal Israeli settlements, it's also directly profiting from and in some cases promoting them,” said Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now.
“To do so risks complicity in war crimes, and the reality is that they are not the only company profiting from the human suffering the Palestinians endure every day. It's time to put an end to this shameless corporate profiteering.”
Most of the identified shops are located in the West Bank, including 14 in Ariel and at least nine in Male Adumim, two of the largest illegal settlements and sites of conflict following expansion plans.
The report also notes that while hundreds more sellers are listed under “Israel” without specific locations, there may be more Etsy stores operating from illegal settlements.
Claire Provost, report author and co-founder and co-director of the Journalism and Social Change Institute, explained that despite the “obvious connections” between hosts and venues, “until now, these relationships have gone under the radar and are challenging.”
“Western complicity in Israeli war crimes is so widespread that even Etsy, a popular platform for 'feel good' shopping, is linked to businesses in the settlements,” Provost said.
Etsy, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Etsy Ireland UC, could face questions and money laundering charges if it is found to have entered the Irish financial system from illegally resident businesses.
A similar complaint related to booking.com, filed in November 2023, is currently being investigated by Dutch authorities.
The company said it disagreed with the allegations and stressed that “no law prohibits listing in illegal Israeli settlements.” However, the results of the research may set a precedent for operations in Israeli settlements.
In response to the findings, Etsy announced an internal review and said it “seeks to comply with applicable laws, including relevant money laundering and sanctions laws.”
“By promoting business in Israel's illegal settlements, Etsy is aiding and abetting the war crimes of forcibly displacing indigenous peoples and relocating civilians to occupied territories by the occupying forces,” said senior Palestine campaigner Neil Sammonds. wanted
“Etsy's complicity extends to the crime of apartheid. These heinous, illegal activities must be stopped immediately.
