A small claims court in Tel Aviv has dismissed a lawsuit against Booking.com over a canceled Dubai vacation, siding with the travel platform in a dispute brought by two Israeli families. The case centered on a 17,000-shekel trip, roughly $5,500, that was scheduled for June 2025.
According to the case summary, the families were unable to take the trip after their flight to Dubai was canceled during the 2025 war with Iran. They then sought to recover the money they had paid for the hotel stay, but the property did not issue a refund.
The families sued Booking.com, arguing that the company should bear responsibility after the booking fell through. The court rejected that claim, ruling that the platform was not liable under its terms of service in the circumstances described in the case.
The decision underscores the legal limits travelers may face when bookings are disrupted by war or other major events. It also highlights the distinction courts may draw between an online booking intermediary and the hotel or travel provider that ultimately controls refund decisions.
