PayPal faces backlash for blocking Palestinians’ access to digital payments

Palestinian journalist Muhammad al-Simry has accused PayPal of blocking Palestinian accounts after the digital payment company permanently barred him from making transactions.

Taking to the microblogging platform X, al-Simry shared screenshots of a notice that appeared during his transaction. The message read, "You can't use PayPal anymore."

Pro-Palestinian supporters have demanded clarification from PayPal, but the company has yet to respond to these complaints.

Netizens have called for a boycott of PayPal, accusing the company of discriminating against Palestinians and restricting their access to the digital economy at a time when they urgently need it to receive aid and payments as Israel’s military offensive devastates lives in the Gaza Strip.

PayPal is closing Palestinians accounts,

Now they shut my account permanently. pic.twitter.com/LDly3aQBVW

— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) September 14, 2024

PayPal is working with the ADL to mass close accounts in Gaza. Starving and bombing aren’t enough, now they’re depriving Palestinians of receiving any outside financial support. https://t.co/ZbJlyJ4F3P

— Jennifer Jajeh (@jenjajeh) September 15, 2024

This is so horrific because not only does this mean those who need aid can’t get it, but also Palestinians in the West Bank can’t work remotely or freelance because PayPal is the only way they can get paid.

We need to stand up to big tech’s complicity in the racism on 🇵🇸 https://t.co/GMMCt3TEul

— Tariq Ra’ouf (@tariq_raouf) September 14, 2024

PayPal is refusing to process transactions in the Palestinian Territories.@PayPayOfficial has already locked out @MuhammadSmiry and other Palestinian citizens living in occupied Gaza and the West Bank!

PayPal stands for genocide!

H/t @DefundIsraelNow pic.twitter.com/bE6zp04YjL

— Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis) September 16, 2024

Previously, PayPal had banned Palestinians from using its services while simultaneously allowing illegal Israeli settlers to access the app in occupied Palestinian territories.

In 2023, eleven members of the US Congress criticised PayPal for blocking Palestinians' access to digital payment accounts and called for an end to the ban and discrimination.

PayPal cited "high-risk" zones as the reason for not extending services to Palestinians, yet it continues to provide uninterrupted service to Israelis in the same regions.

In 2021, the financial tech firm partnered with the staunchly pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League to investigate funding for hate crimes. 

Palestinian groups condemned the Anti-Defamation League, accusing it of equating their struggle for rights with extremism and anti-Semitism.