The EU must end preferential trade with Israel and uphold international law.

ActionAid responds to the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels today.   

 Javier Garcia, Head of Europe and Americas Region responds: “We are deeply concerned that the EU has again failed to take meaningful action to save lives, uphold human rights and hold the Government of Israel accountable for the crimes it is committing in the occupied Palestinian territory. The EU is effectively giving the Israeli government a free pass to continue breaching international law, with no accountability for the atrocities and engineered starvation unfolding in Gaza.  

 “The EU Foreign Affairs Council’s failure to act on suspending Israel’s preferential trade agreement is a betrayal of the EU’s own principles and commitments to human rights and international law. The EU has identified clear breaches of international law, Palestinians have faced two years of relentless bombardment, displacement and famine, and what the UN has determined to be a genocide. The EU can no longer look the other way. By partially suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement, EU imports from Israel would be exposed to an extra €227 million in duties, and this should be used to support the rebuilding and reconstruction of Gaza, led by Palestinians and centring women and young people.   

 “The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile and is being repeatedly breached. The time for threats of sanctions is over. The EU must use its economic, diplomatic and legal leverage to guarantee a real and lasting ceasefire, a free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and a recovery that is led by Palestinians themselves, including women and youth. Throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel’s illegal occupation continues to deny Palestinians their most fundamental rights, including self-determination. There can be no business as usual while these violations persist. The EU must strengthen its pressure, not release it.”  

ENDS