UN experts urge EU to suspend Israel trade deal over human rights concerns

A group of United Nations experts has called on the European Union to suspend its trade agreement with Israel, saying it is the “minimum required” step to comply with international law amid ongoing concerns over human rights violations.

The appeal comes as European foreign ministers prepare to meet in Luxembourg, where they are expected to discuss the future of the EU–Israel Association Agreement. The deal, in place since 2000, gives Israel preferential access to European markets, including reduced or zero tariffs on certain goods.

According to a report in Arab News, over 20 independent UN experts warned that continuing such trade ties could undermine the EU’s commitment to human rights and international law.

'A moral test'

The experts said that the situation presents a “clear moral test” for Europe. They argued that the EU cannot claim to defend human rights while maintaining special trade relations with a country accused of serious violations.

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The statement was endorsed by several prominent UN-appointed experts, including Francesca Albanese, Farida Shaheed, Tlaleng Mofokeng and Ben Saul, along with members of a UN working group on enforced disappearances.

They pointed to Article 2 of the EU–Israel agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential condition of the deal. According to the experts, repeated alleged violations should have already led to its suspension.

Legal concerns and court rulings

The UN experts referred to recent rulings by international courts. They highlighted findings by the International Court of Justice that pointed to a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid and prevent further harm.

They also mentioned a July 2024 advisory opinion by the court, which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful and urged countries to avoid economic ties that support the situation.

In addition, the experts cited arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant on charges related to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Growing pressure on EU

As Israel’s largest trading partner, the EU plays a significant economic role. The experts warned that continuing preferential trade, including tariff-free access for some products, could conflict with the bloc’s obligations under international agreements such as the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions.

They also raised concerns over what they described as worsening conditions in Palestinian territories, including displacement, destruction of infrastructure and limits on humanitarian aid.

The experts also criticised a recent law introduced by Israeli authorities that calls for death penalty for Palestinians convicted of terrorism-related offences, calling it discriminatory.

Public pressure within Europe is also increasing. A European Citizens’ Initiative launched earlier this year calling for suspension of the trade deal has gathered more than 1.1 million signatures.

Call for immediate action

The UN experts said that, given the scale of the alleged violations, suspending the trade agreement should not be seen as a political choice but as a legal obligation.

They stressed that such a move would be the minimum step needed for the EU to align its actions with international law, as calls grow for stronger measures in response to the ongoing conflict.