Booking.com scandal: hotel in Italy refused Israeli due to 'genocide in Gaza'

An Israeli tourist, Simcha Goldstein, was denied check-in at an apartment in Naples booked through Booking.com. The owner wrote: 'I do not accept citizens of countries guilty of genocide.' The service did not remove the listing, only issuing a warning. Shai Glick, head of the B'tzalmo organization, demanded the property be blocked.

An Israeli tourist, Simcha Goldstein, faced discrimination when trying to check into the NAPOLI MOOD Il Golfo Apartments in Naples, booked through the Booking.com platform. The reservation was confirmed, but soon the property owner wrote via the service's messaging system: 'You can cancel the booking. I do not accept citizens of countries guilty of genocide.' The refusal was based on the guest's nationality. Shai Glick, CEO of the B'tzalmo organization, demanded that Booking.com remove these apartments from the platform, citing discrimination based on national origin and violation of company policy. In response, Booking.com merely reminded owners of its anti-discrimination policy and issued a warning to the host. The service did not report blocking or removing the listing. Representatives of the apartments did not respond to journalists' inquiries. The incident occurred amid reports of rising anti-Israeli sentiment in Italy, including calls on social media to report the whereabouts of Israeli tourists.