This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The land acquisitions and settlement policies in the West Bank have transcended regional concerns to become a global topic of debate in the fields of international law, human rights, and institutional accountability. Land belonging to Palestinian civilians is seen as being seized through a system supported by coercive practices, administrative barriers, and legal loopholes rather than voluntary sales.
In this context, a notable development is the allegation that Axel Springer, one of Europe’s leading media companies, has indirectly contributed to this process through its Israeli subsidiary. A legal team composed of lawyers from Germany, Israel, and Palestine has filed a legal complaint in Germany on behalf of three West Bank villages. The complaint alleges that the real estate platform Yad2, operated by Axel Springer’s subsidiary Coral Tell Ltd., lists properties on confiscated Palestinian land exclusively for sale to Jewish settlers.
Since the 1967 military occupation, Israel has constructed approximately 300 settlements in the West Bank. The Israeli state directly supports these settlements with infrastructure, security, and economic incentives, while certain private and ideological organizations also participate in the process. Some settlement units, even those deemed illegal under Israeli law, have gradually acquired official status over time.
Land transfers are typically carried out through military zone declarations or expropriation orders, but Palestinian civilians face severe administrative obstacles during this process. Especially in Area C under Israeli control, construction permits are almost never granted and access to agricultural activities is frequently blocked. Freedom of movement is also restricted by checkpoints and roads reserved exclusively for settlers.
The complaint is grounded in Germany’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Act, which came into force in 2023. This law obliges large corporations to take preventive measures against human rights violations within their supply chains. The complainants argue that Axel Springer’s failure to intervene in the listings on Yad2 constitutes a breach of this legal obligation.
The situation is clear under international law: the Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own civilian population into occupied territory. Therefore, settlement activities violate not only individual property rights but also the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.
Although legal action is not expected to directly lead to the dismantling of settlements, preventing the dissemination of such listings could reduce the attractiveness of these settlements. This would help curb new property transfers and slow the expansion of illegal settlements. This issue holds significant importance for Germany not only under its domestic law but also under its international obligations.
However, according to the latest information, Germany’s Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) has rejected the complaint. Nevertheless, experts emphasize that such matters must be evaluated not only from a legal perspective but also in terms of ethical responsibility. These violations, shaped in part by the indirect contributions of corporate actors, are regarded as an essential component of the pursuit of justice and peace.
Property Crisis in the West Bank and International Law Debates
Complaint Against Axel Springer: Allegations of Sales via Digital Platform
Historical Development and State-Supported Expansion of Settlements
Legal and Administrative Methods Used in Land Acquisition
Assessment Under Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Law in Germany
What Does International Law Say?
Potential Impacts of the Complaint and Germany’s Position
BAFA’s Decision and Ethical Responsibility Debates