International NGOs call for complete ban on trade between EU and Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories

Samara Baboolal | JURIST Staff, GB

FEBRUARY 6, 2025 1

Human rights organizations called on the EU Tuesday to enact a complete ban on all trade and business with Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories. In a joint letter to the EU president more than 160 human rights groups, trade unions, and civil society groups urged the European Commission to adhere to obligations set out under international law.

The letter refers to the International Court of Justice advisory opinion from July that “the State of Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful,” and that states are under legal obligation “not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” The EU responded shortly after this ruling that it “takes good note of the Advisory Opinion,” and agreed with the conclusions made by the court.

ActionAid, one of the organizations that signed the joint letter, said that the EU and EU member states are breaching legal obligations set out in the World Court’s ruling and are “simultaneously contributing to serious and systemic human rights and other international law abuses underpinning the settlement enterprise.”

The letter states that a current EU policy which distinguishes “between goods produced in Israel” and settlements allows for both goods to “enter the EU market.” The organizations urged the EU to adhere to its international obligations and called for the following actions to be taken by the European Commission: a total ban on trade and investments with Israeli settlements and a “strengthened business advisory” with the aim of discouraging any businesses based in Europe from continuing beneficial engagement with Israeli settlements.