Consumption opens a sanctioning file to a platform for not removing advertisements of tourist flats in the occupied Palestinian territories

Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs opened a sanctioning file on Monday against a vacation rental platform for failing to remove listings for accommodations located in Israeli settlements within occupied Palestinian territories. The department, led by Minister Pablo Bustinduy, stated that the company ignored three separate notifications demanding the deletion or blocking of such offers. The identity of the firm has not been disclosed, though it operates throughout Spain. It faces potential fines reaching 100,000 euros for alleged illicit advertising practices. The ministry detected at the end of last year that 138 tourist apartment listings were being offered in Spain through seven multinational tourism companies. These properties were situated in settlements identified under more than 200 postal codes published in the Official State Gazette in December 2025. Officials deemed this commercial content illegal under Spanish law. Six of the notified platforms complied with the order by removing the ads or blocking access from Spanish users. Only one company disregarded the requirement despite repeated warnings. The legal basis for the action stems from a royal decree-law approved by the government in late September of the previous year. This legislation introduced measures against the war in Gaza, classifying any advertisement for goods originating from Israeli settlements or services provided in these zones as illicit. The ministry argued that keeping such products on the Spanish market would contribute to perpetuating colonial efforts. Under Article 4 of the decree, such publicity violates consumer protection regulations. If aggravating circumstances are found, the infraction could be classified as serious. Penalties under the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users include fines up to 100,000 euros or amounts ranging from four to six times the illicit profit obtained from the practice. The ministry emphasized that opening the file does not prejudge the final outcome of the investigation. Other nations have taken similar steps regarding trade with West Bank settlements following the conflict in Gaza. France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden have restricted commerce with these areas. However, no community-wide agreement has been reached. Foreign ministers of the twenty-seven member states debated a proposal to ban commercial exchanges with these enclaves before summer but failed to agree. They did, however, unanimously regard the Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law. The ministry had previously warned that it would evaluate further actions and initiate a formal inquiry if the platform did not comply with the removal orders. The current sanctioning process represents the next step in that enforcement strategy. The specific platform remains unnamed in official communications, distinguishing it from its peers who adhered to the initial directive. The case highlights the application of new domestic rules aimed at isolating settlement economies from the European market. Regulatory authorities continue to monitor compliance among remaining operators in the sector.