Amnesty International has urged for the European Union to institute a prohibition on trade for goods coming from Israeli settlements deemed “illegal” in the occupied Palestinian regions. In a missive to the 27 foreign ministers of the EU, the rights watch group recommended a prohibition on finances in Israeli firms contributing to the “illegal control” of Palestinian territories and stressed this should encapsulate banks and firms participating in the setting up of new Israeli settlements.
The letter implored that the EU enact “a thorough arms embargo” on Israel. Eve Geddie, lead of Amnesty International’s EU office, conveyed through the letter that the EU must take measures to halt commerce of goods originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Though Amnesty International has previously advocated for an embargo on weapons’ sales to Israel, this marks the first endorsement of a trade embargo, stated a representative. Ms Geddie expressed any trade barriers affecting Israeli settler products must incorporate a “penalising mechanism” for breaching countries.
Amnesty International proposed a prohibition on investments in Israeli businesses tied to settlements should also include corporations manufacturing arms and surveillance and law-enforcement equipment. The recommended limitations should also reach financial institutions and firms participating in the building of settlements in occupied Palestinian lands.
Before a gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels and with the EU’s head of foreign affairs, Josep Borrell, the letter was delivered. Foreign ministers intend to meet to evaluate the Middle East situation and continuing talks to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, following Israel’s retaliatory action to the October 7th strike by the Hamas militants. This assault resulted in 1,200 deaths as per Israeli records. Palestinian health officials reported a death toll surpassing 40,000 during the military campaign by Israel in Gaza.
In reaction to The International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion that Israeli settlements violated international law in the occupied Palestinian regions, Amnesty International urged the EU to take further action. According to Ms Geddie, support must be provided by EU countries to United Nations’ initiatives “to put a stop to Israel’s illegal occupation.”
In her correspondence, she emphasised that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has definitively ascertained Israel’s contravention of global law by relocating its settlers into the West Bank regions of Palestine. She articulated the necessity for the EU to wholeheartedly recognise and agree with the judgements passed by the court in the early part of this year. She cautioned that neglecting to do so could significantly ruin the reputation of the EU and the implementation of global law in additional scenarios.
The aforementioned communication was lent support by Amnesty International who joined Ireland and Spain in a bid to urge the European Commission to re-assess its trade pact with Israel, considering the recent incursion into Gaza.