Over 160 NGOs call on EU to ban trade with Israeli settlements

WORLD, Feb. 05 (YPA) – Over 160 organizations and trade unions Tuesday called on the European Union (EU) to ban trade and business with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

This came in a joint letter sent by the organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

In their letter, the organizations urged von der Leyen to comply with international law and end Europe’s support for Israeli settlers who have seized Palestinian land.

The organizations referred to the International Court of Justice’s ruling in July 2024 regarding the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, stressing that the European Union’s policies are already violating international obligations.

The letter also highlighted that goods produced in the occupied Palestinian territories are being exported to the European market, calling for a ban on trade with settlements accused of human rights violations.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation army and settlers have expanded their assaults in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in the martyrdom of 905 Palestinians, with around 7,000 injured, and the arrest of 14,300 others, according to official Palestinian data.

With American support, the Israeli occupation forces committed genocide in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, leaving more than 159,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, the majority of whom were children and women, and over 14,000 missing.

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