Garda to Reconsider Palestinian’s Airbnb Allegations
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Irish Court Orders gardaí to reconsider Airbnb Complaint Over West Bank Land
Table of Contents
Background: The Complaint and Legal Challenge
An garda Síochána will reconsider a Palestinian man’s complaint against Airbnb alleging Israeli settlers used the website to advertise rental properties built on land stolen from him in the West Bank,the high Court has heard.
The man, who resides in the West Bank, brought judicial review proceedings against the Garda Commissioner in July seeking to quash a decision not to investigate his complaint, which claimed Airbnb was “an accessory to the crime of transfer, accessory to the crime of appropriation and money laundering”.
Airbnb’s alleged permitting of the rental of cabins on the man’s land through operations at its Dublin offices constitute crimes, the man claims.
Airbnb’s Dublin base at Hanover Quay is the firm’s headquarters for its operations in Europe and the Middle East.Airbnb was contacted for comment on the man’s complaints.
The Court Hearing and Outcome
On Thursday, barrister Aoife McMahon, appearing for the man and instructed by KOD Lyons, told Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty that the commissioner was conceding to certain reliefs sought, and saeid the complaint will be reconsidered by An Garda Síochána.
Remy Farrell SC, for the commissioner, said there was consent to the reliefs.
Ms Justice Gearty made an order quashing the Garda’s decision not to investigate the man’s complaint.
An order anonymising the man was previously granted after counsel submitted his identification would place him “in danger from the Israeli authorities”. The man was joined in his legal action by Sadaka, an irish non-governmental organisation seeking to support the freedom and rights of Palestinians.
Understanding the Allegations: Land Appropriation and International Law
The core of the complaint centers around allegations of land appropriation in the West Bank. The West Bank is a territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day war. International law considers the establishment of settlements by Israel in the West bank to be a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The legality of these settlements is not recognized by most of the international community.
The complainant alleges