Spain last week banned the promotion of such goods and services in Spain to prevent firms from benefiting from the Israeli Occupation of Gaza. Above, a billboard advertising ‘50 new settlements have been recognized’ outside the 'Israeli' settlement of Kohav HaShahar in West Bank. (AFP)
Spain bans advertising for tourism in 'Israeli' settlements
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Spain instructs platforms to pull ads promoting tourist stays in 'Israeli' settlements.
- Madrid frames the move as part of a broader effort to oppose the Gaza genocide and settlement expansion.
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has ordered advertising platforms to remove listings that promote short-term tourist rentals in 'Israeli' settlements, marking a fresh step in Madrid’s escalating push against settlement activity and the war on Gaza.
In a statement, the ministry said it had identified 138 advertisements for tourist accommodations across seven platforms operating in Spain.
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Warning to platforms
The ministry said it issued an initial warning to the multinational companies, notifying them of “illegal content” hosted on their platforms. The listings, it said, advertised commercial accommodations located in Palestinian territories occupied by 'Israel'.
Platforms were instructed to withdraw or block the advertisements immediately. The ministry warned that failure to comply would trigger “subsequent measures” by the government.
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Officials said the decision falls under a decree adopted by the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and approved by parliament in October, aimed at “ending the genocide in Gaza and supporting the Palestinian people”.
Targeting settlement-linked commerce
Related measures already in force include a ban on buying weapons from 'Israel' or selling arms to it, as well as prohibitions on promotional advertising for products manufactured in 'Israeli' settlements or in occupied land.
Commenting on the new decision, the ministry said such accommodations “contribute to the normalization of a colonial system considered illegal under international law and to prolonging its existence”.
A broader policy shift
Spain’s foreign policy has undergone what officials describe as a qualitative shift toward a more independent and assertive stance on Middle East crises, with the Palestinian issue at the forefront.
That shift has translated into concrete actions, including increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, pressure within the European Union for tougher collective positions, and entry bans on 'Israeli' figures Madrid deems directly responsible for the genocide and destruction carried out by the Israeli Occupation against Palestinians.
Similar initiatives have emerged elsewhere in Europe. In October, the French Human Rights League announced legal action against online booking platforms accused of promoting tourist accommodations in 'Israeli' settlements built on Palestinian land.
