Ankara: Hind Rajab Foundation's (HRF) formal complaint about European Investment Bank's (EIB) complicity in Israeli war crimes progressed Tuesday to the formal assessment phase within the bank's Complaints Mechanism (EIB-CM), according to a statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, this development is being seen as both a political and legal milestone, as it compels a European institution to address its alleged involvement in serious breaches of international law. HRF has termed this advancement a "turning point."

HRF originally lodged the complaint on June 20, urging the EIB-CM to take immediate steps to suspend and investigate the EIB's financial collaborations with Israeli institutions that the UN has blacklisted for participation in illegal settlements.

The investments in question, totaling over £1 billion ($1.1 billion), include funding for Bank Leumi, Electra, and other entities identified in the UN's 2020 database for their role in supporting and profiting from Israeli settlements.

HRF emphasized that this is among the first legal actions within the EU to directly challenge the financial involvement of an EU institution in alleged Israeli war crimes. HRF believes this case is groundbreaking in holding not only Israel but also third-party enablers accountable under international law.

The EIB is now tasked with examining whether its transactions with Bank Leumi, Electra, and other blacklisted companies violate its own standards, EU law, or international obligations.