London: US e-commerce platform Etsy is doing business with dozens of shops located in illegal Israeli settlements, a new report has revealed.
The report, published jointly by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, Global Justice and War on Want, identified at least 44 Etsy shops operating in 16 different settlements that were considered illegal by the United Nations and international law as of July.
“Etsy doesn't simply turn a blind eye to stores listed on its site that operate in illegal Israeli settlements, it directly profits from them and in some cases even promotes them,” said Nick Dearden, Director of Global Justice. .
To do so runs the risk of complicity in war crimes, and the reality is that they are not the only company profiting from the human misery inflicted on Palestinians every day. It's time to put an end to this shameless corporate profiteering.”
Most of the shops identified are located in the West Bank, including 14 shops in Ariel and at least nine shops in Maale Adumim, two of the largest illegal settlements and frequent sites of conflict following development plans.
The report also noted that there may be more Etsy shops operating from illegal settlements, with hundreds of other sellers listed solely as “Israel” and without specific locations.
Claire Provost, author of the report and co-founder and co-director of the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, explained that despite the “clear connections” between hosts and venues, “until now, these relationships have been under the radar and unchallenged.”
“Western complicity in Israel's war crimes is so pervasive that even Etsy, the popular platform for 'feel good' shopping, is connected to businesses in the settlements,” Provost said.
Etsy, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Etsy Ireland UC, could face questions and accusations of money laundering if proceeds from illegal settlement businesses flow into the Irish financial system.
A similar complaint against booking.com, filed in November 2023, is currently being investigated by Dutch authorities.
The company said it disputed the claims, stressing that “no law prohibits listing in illegal Israeli settlements.” However, the result of the research could set a precedent for operations in Israeli settlements.
In response to the findings, Etsy announced an internal review and said it was seeking to “comply with applicable laws, including anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.”
“By promoting business in illegal Israeli settlements, Etsy is contributing to the war crimes of forced displacement of indigenous peoples and transportation of civilians by the occupying force to occupied territories,” said Neil Sammonds, a senior campaigner in Palestine at War. Ask
Etsy's complicity extends to the crime of apartheid. It should immediately stop these heinous and illegal activities.”
