Brussels: Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have issued a call to the European Union to implement a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements situated in the occupied Palestinian territories. The appeal was directed towards European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to take decisive action on measures she proposed a year prior.
According to Anadolu Agency, the joint statement was released ahead of von der Leyen's annual State of the EU address. The human rights organizations criticized the lack of implementation of the measures she proposed last year, noting that 'almost none' had been adopted. They emphasized the need to revive the proposal to suspend the trade component of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to impose sanctions on Israeli officials and settlers. Additionally, they proposed an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements.
The statement highlighted the EU's slow progress, mentioning that several member states and allies have already moved to restrict trade with the settlements. The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the West Bank was also a focal point, with the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza rising significantly since von der Leyen's previous address in 2025. The groups reported that Israeli authorities have continued to restrict humanitarian aid and confined Gaza's population to a mere 30% of the territory, with discussions about removing Palestinians from Gaza openly taking place.
In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the organizations reported accelerated settlement expansion, home demolitions, land seizures, and displacement of Palestinians. The groups reported that at least 88 Palestinians, including 22 children, had been killed in the West Bank in 2026, bringing the total since October 2023 to nearly 1,100.
The statement also accused Israel of adopting a death penalty bill and detaining Palestinians without charge or trial, with allegations of torture against detainees. Regarding Lebanon, they reported that Israeli attacks had resulted in 4,383 deaths since March, citing Lebanon's Health Ministry. The victims included 261 children, 399 women, and 135 medical workers.
The groups urged von der Leyen to move beyond relying solely on EU humanitarian aid to Palestinians and to use the bloc's influence to address the root causes of the humanitarian crisis. They advocated for her to 'actively and vocally' engage with member states, particularly Germany and Italy, to garner support for an EU-wide settlement trade ban. The organizations also called for suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement and imposing sanctions on Israeli officials.
Lastly, they suggested the EU consider using its blocking statute to protect the International Criminal Court and its cooperators from US sanctions, warning that another year of 'failures, inaction, and half-hearted proposals' could further damage the EU's credibility.