On June 20, 2025, Human Rights Watch, along with over 110 organizations and trade unions, urged the European Union to suspend its trade agreement with Israel. This collective call highlights ongoing concerns about alleged atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians. The coalition of entities stressed that holding Israel accountable for what they identify as systematic abuses, including alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide during military operations in Gaza, is long overdue (source).
The joint statement reinforces the necessity for the EU to conduct a thorough, comprehensive, and credible review of Israel’s adherence to Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This article links respect for human rights and democratic principles with the agreement’s validity. The call for suspension arose in light of Israel’s repeated defiance of binding orders by the International Court of Justice, which instructed Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza and ensure humanitarian aid delivery.
Furthermore, Israel has allegedly ignored an ICJ advisory opinion which implicates the occupation of Palestinian territories and settlement expansions as breaches of international law. The ICJ opinion emphasized the obligation of states, including EU members, under the Fourth Geneva Convention to leverage economic relations to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.
This appeal gains immediacy ahead of an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers. Scheduled for June 23, they will evaluate Israel’s compliance with human rights obligations. The proposed suspension, originally requested by Spain and Ireland, would not fully ban trade but aims to reinstate tariffs on bilateral trade with Israel (source).
Claudio Francavilla, HRW’s acting director for the EU, urged the bloc to act decisively, criticizing EU member states for their inaction, which he warns risks complicity in the alleged genocide. Francavilla described the suspension as a necessary step to maintain the EU’s credibility in human rights and international law (source).
The geopolitical context of the Israeli-Iranian conflict complicates the matter further. The UN postponed a conference focused on a two-state solution due to escalating regional tensions (source). Amidst this, concerns over humanitarian conditions continue, with reports indicating that over 1.9 million Palestinians in Gaza are internally displaced and suffering from restricted access to essential aid (source).