Almost 20,000 people have pledged to deactivate their Airbnb accounts for a global campaign protesting the company's decision to re-introduce property listings in Israeli West Bank settlements, considered illegal under international law.

The #DeactivateAirbnb action is timed to coincide with Nakba Day on Wednesday or what is known as "the catastrophe," which led to the exodus of several hundred thousand Palestinians after the declaration of the State of Israel on 15 May 1948.

Airbnb announced in November last year it would remove from its website around 200 listings in the settlements of the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, an area claimed by Palestinians as territory for a future state, and would donate all profits from properties in the West Bank to humanitarian aid organisations.

The company however reversed the decision five months later.

National Demonstration for Palestine Show all 57 1 /57 National Demonstration for Palestine National Demonstration for Palestine Protest icon, Ahed Tamimi meets supporters of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Marie Berry National Demonstration for Palestine Rapper and activist Lowkey meet a supporter of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Saskia Whitfield National Demonstration for Palestine Dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah meets supporters of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 National Demonstration for Palestine Journalists report from the scene of the demonstration at Whitehall during the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters of the Palestine cause pose for a picture at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Tariq Ali speaks to the crowd at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Diane Abbott at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Shamil Jorda from Friends of Al Aqsa (left) said it was important to advocate self determination for Palestine, however, he said "it is up to the Palestinian people to decide what solution they want ” and that the UK government needs to ensure it implements international law and abides by UN resolutions. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters of the Palestine cause at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Protest icon Ahed Tamimi speaks to the media at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine MP Richard Bergen gives a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian protest icon Ahed Tamimi gives a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian protest icon Ahed Tamimi gives a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi became a global sensation after she slapped an Israeli soldier at the West Bank last year. She is stood here next to Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Dr Husam Zomlot who introduced her to the crowd at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Protestors show solidarity for Palestine at at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi became a global sensation after she slapped an Israeli soldier at the West Bank last year. She is stood here next to Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Dr Husam Zomlot who introduced her to the crowd at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Dr Husam Zomlot speaks to the crowd at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Zita Holborn, national vice chairman of the Public and Commercial Services Union and chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Member of the media backstage at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Stewards back stage at the at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Ahed Tamimi with her father and supporters back stage at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A supporter listens intently to a speech at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A speaker at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Salma Yaqoob at Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019. She told The Independent the UK and US need to be “honest brokers” because its role “has been too one-sided.” She added: “First off, the UK can stop arms trading with Israel. There needs to be a social and political boycott of the state of Israel and people need to keep to the promises they made years ago. The UK needs to take a moral leadership in that, but instead, we’re seeing the very opposite.” Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Ahed Tamimi with her father Bessem, back stage at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A supporter at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Celtic Football Club supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine An Indonesian family show their support at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Catherine Charrett, a lecturer at Queen Mary and Westfield College’s School of Politics and International Relations told The Independent it was crucial to bring an end to Israel’s apartheid system. She said: “You cannot continue to treat a population as if they’re targets of war to be used for military practice. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A supporter at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine The crowd of protestors included members of ultra Orthodox Jewish community, the Haredi, who said they were there to show solidarity because they did not support the oppression of the Palestinian people. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine The crowd of protestors included members of ultra Orthodox Jewish community, the Haredi, who said they were there to show solidarity because they did not support the oppression of the Palestinian people. Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Football Against Apartheid at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Flags and banners at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Flags and banners at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine A speaker at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent National Demonstration for Palestine Supporters at the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 11 May 2019 Anu Shukla/The Independent

Jewish Voice for Peace communications director Granate Kim told The Independent: "This day-long deactivation is just a first step in telling Airbnb you can't do the right thing and then backpedal - and not expect blowback.

"They're not taking any money from rental fees, but honestly, that doesn't matter. It's more about giving in to baseless lawsuits, fear and feeding a narrative that says international law is fine to breach when it comes to Israel and that stolen land is fine to rent if it belongs to Palestinians."

Houses in the Israeli settlement of Ma’ale Adumim, in the occupied West Bank. Airbnb implies its new policy will not distinguish between settlement listings and Palestinian listings (Reuters)

Figures disclosed to The Independent reveal over 2,000 members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and 16,000 from the Jewish Voice for Peace - mooted the largest pro-Palestine rights organisation in the US - will deactivate their Airbnb accounts on Wednesday to protest the company's decision.

The groups form part of a global coalition of 20 international organisations involved in the action and are from countries including Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Tunisia and Jordan.

Those supporting the campaign also include the BDS Movement, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, SumofUs, United Methodists for Kairos Response, American Muslims for Palestine, Just Peace Advocates, the Palestine Institute for Public Democracy and CODEPINK.

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On its website last month, the company stated: "Airbnb has always opposed the BDS movement. Airbnb has never boycotted Israel, Israeli businesses, or the more than 20,000 Israeli hosts who are active on the Airbnb platform.

"We have always sought to bring people together and will continue to work with our community to achieve this goal."

Airbnb's decision was welcomed by various Israel advocacy organisations, including by Tel Aviv-based group director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, who said: “The policy Airbnb announced last November was abject discrimination against Jewish users of the website.

“We commend Airbnb for recognising that it had landed on the wrong side of this issue and changing the policy.”

But protest groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) have said the company has simply buckled under pressure "following months of condemnation from various pro-Israel organisations."

PSC director Ben Jamal said: "Today, thousands of campaigners across the world have sent a clear message to Airbnb that their disregard for human rights and international law will not be tolerated. They simply cannot justify legitimising illegal settlements built on stolen Palestinian land.

"Airbnb must realise this campaign will only continue to grow and escalate if they refuse to change their irresponsible decision, which places them firmly on the wrong side of history."

The move was also condemned in a letter to Jeremy Hunt last Wednesday by several MPs including Holly Lynch, Lilian Greenwood, Graham Jones, Chris Elmore and Julie Elliott.