LONDON: A new report suggests that US e-commerce platform Etsy is doing business with dozens of stores located in illegal Israeli settlements.
The report, jointly published by the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, Global Justice Now, and War on Want, identified at least 44 Etsy stores operating in 16 different settlements that were considered illegal under the United Nations and international law as of July.
Nick Dearden, executive director of Global Justice Now, said, “Etsy is not just turning a blind eye to stores listed on its site operating in illegal Israeli settlements; it is directly monetizing them and, in some cases, promoting them.”
“Doing so risks complicity in war crimes, and the reality is that they are not the only corporations profiting from the human misery inflicted on the Palestinian people every day. It is time to put an end to this blatant corporate profiteering.”
Most of the identified stores are located in the West Bank, including 14 in Ariel and at least nine in Ma'ale Adumim, the two largest illegal settlements and a frequent site of conflict over expansion plans.
The report also noted that there may be far more Etsy stores operating from illegal settlements, as there are hundreds of sellers listed simply as “Israel” without a specific location.
Despite the “obvious connection” between hosts and places, “until now, this relationship has flown under the radar and gone uncontested,” explained report author Claire Provost, co-founder and co-director of the Institute for Journalism and Social Change.
“Western complicity in Israeli war crimes is so pervasive that even Etsy, a popular platform for ‘feel-good’ shopping, has links to businesses in settlements,” Provost said.
Etsy, which operates in Israel through its subsidiary Etsy Ireland UC, could face money laundering charges and investigations if proceeds from its illicit payment operations are found to be flowing into the Irish financial system.
A similar complaint regarding booking.com was filed in November 2023 and is currently being investigated by Dutch authorities.
The company disagrees with the claims and emphasizes that “there is no law prohibiting listings in illegal Israeli settlements.” However, the findings could set a precedent for operating in Israeli settlements.
In response to the findings, Etsy announced an internal review and said it would “comply with applicable laws, including applicable anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.”
“By facilitating business in illegal Israeli settlements, Etsy is aiding and abetting two war crimes: the forced displacement of indigenous people and the displacement of civilians by the occupying power into occupied territories,” said Neil Sammons, senior Palestine campaigner at War on Want.
“Etsy’s complicity extends to apartheid crimes. Etsy must immediately cease this heinous and illegal activity.”
