Human Rights Groups Urge EU to End Trade Ties with Israeli Settlements
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RDA Gulf Correspondent
- . February 4, 2025
- . Update: February 4, 2025 9:49 pm
Trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories should be prohibited, according to more than 160 NGOs, civil society organisations and trade unions.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission received the letter with the appeal. She was advised to stop supporting Israel’s unlawful settlement business in order to ensure that Europe conforms with international law. It coincides with the resurgence of global interest in the Palestinian issue following the ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Human Rights Watch, Israeli authorities have “expanded their illegal settlements and intensified their repression of Palestinians” in the West Bank while Palestinians “continue suffering” in the enclave despite the “fragile” peace.
By unanimous vote, EU members have denounced Israeli settlements on numerous occasions. The bloc also introduced two rounds of targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers. The International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation to be unlawful in July of last year and demanded that settlements be demolished.
States have an obligation to prevent trade “that assists in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” the court said. Groups warned that products exported from Israeli settlements are not prohibited from entering the European market claiming that current EU regulations violate this duty.
