Welsh Indie band rejects £45,000 deal with Airbnb in solidarity with Palestine

"Free Palestine. Eat the Rich.”

Explaining why they were publicising the news, they added: “We’re sharing this because we have found similar acts of solidarity and protest by our peers to be inspiring.

"Every time an artist takes a principled stance it makes it easier for the next artist to do the same.”

California-based Airbnb are one of thousands of companies targeted by the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement, for their relationship with Israel. 

The BDS website states: “Corporations that are implicated in the commission of international crimes connected to Israel’s unlawful occupation, racial segregation, and apartheid regime - within or beyond the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 - are all complicit and must be held accountable.”

A Guardian report from February this year, claimed that Airbnb have properties available to rent in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including Tekoa and Ovnat. 

When asked for comment, an Airbnb spokesperson responded to The Guardian, saying: “Since 2019, Airbnb has donated all profits generated from host activity in the West Bank to an international nonprofit.

"We will continue this approach as part of our global framework on disputed territories.”

Further to this, the Guardian article stated: “Airbnb normally makes 20% profit on its rentals. Since 2019, it has donated profits from the West Bank to the Institute for Economics and Peace, an Australian non-profit.”