Spain opens investigation into tourism platform over Palestinian settlement ads

Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and 2030 Agenda has opened a disciplinary proceeding against a tourism services platform for failing to remove or block advertisements for accommodations located in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

The Ministry initially issued requirements to seven multinational companies in December 2025, requesting the immediate removal or blocking of commercial communications regarding settlements in the occupied territories. While six of the notified platforms complied, one multinational maintained the visibility of these ads in Spain despite receiving up to three separate notifications.

The investigation is based on a royal decree-law aimed at taking urgent measures against genocide in Gaza and supporting the Palestinian population. Under this law, advertising goods or services originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is classified as illicit.

If the practices are classified as a serious infringement under the General Law for the Defense of Consumers and Users, the platform could face fines of up to 100,000 euros or between four and six times the illicit profit obtained from the practices.