- Meta hosted over 100 paid ads promoting illegal Israeli settlements and far-right activity in the occupied West Bank, some calling for the demolition of Palestinian infrastructure.
- Real estate and far-right groups used Facebook to market settlement properties and push anti-Palestinian agendas, raising legal concerns about complicity in international law violations.
- Meta also platformed fundraisers for Israeli military units operating in Gaza, despite its own policies banning ads related to weapons and military equipment.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has come under scrutiny after an investigation by Al Jazeera revealed that over 100 paid advertisements promoting illegal Israeli settlements and far-right settler activity in the occupied West Bank were hosted on its platform. These ads, some of which are still active, include calls for demolishing Palestinian homes and infrastructure, as well as fundraisers supporting Israeli military units operating in Gaza. Legal analysts and digital rights experts have raised concerns that Meta may be complicit in activities that contravene international law by profiting from such content.
Among the ads identified, at least 52 were run by Israeli real estate companies selling properties in settlements like Ariel, Ma’ale Adumim, and Efrat. The listings targeted potential buyers within Israel and abroad, including users in the UK and the United States. Many of these settlements are internationally recognised as illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute. Meta acknowledged removing some of the ads for breaching its political content policies but did not clarify whether settlement promotion violates these rules.
Real estate developers such as Ram Aderet and Gabai Real Estate used Facebook to showcase new housing projects in the occupied West Bank. These developments were part of expansion plans approved by Israeli authorities in early 2024. The companies behind them have received funding from banks that have previously faced divestment campaigns for financing settlement construction. The ads painted life in these settlements as peaceful and desirable, while masking the legal and ethical implications of their existence under occupation.
Al Jazeera also uncovered 50 ads posted by Regavim, a far-right settler organisation known for advocating the demolition of Palestinian homes, schools, and public spaces. These ads celebrated the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, including a school and a children’s water park, framing them as security threats or illegal structures. Regavim receives funding from both the Israeli government and other sanctioned pro-settlement groups. The European Union and human rights organisations have condemned such demolitions as discriminatory and in violation of children’s rights.
In addition to settlement promotion, Meta has hosted ads fundraising for Israeli military units operating in Gaza, even after the announcement of a ceasefire. These included appeals for sniper equipment, drone accessories, and night-vision gear. Legal experts argue that such fundraisers could violate Meta’s own ad policies and international humanitarian law by supporting military operations in occupied territories. Critics say Meta’s acceptance of these ads amounts to profiting from potentially criminal activity and normalising the occupation through digital platforms.
