Source: European Parliament
The EU has been consistently clear in its position that settlements are illegal under international law and repeatedly condemned Israel’s settlement policy and the occupation of the Palestinian territory that began in 1967.
As reiterated by the European Council on 27 June[1] and 17 October 2024[2], the EU has recalled the requirement for Israel, in exercising its right to defend itself, to fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, in all circumstances .
EU positions and policies are fully aligned with United Nations (UN) resolutions on the status of the O ccupied Palestinian T erritory (OPT) and are therefore overall consistent with the conclusions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the OPT, including East Jerusalem, of 19 July 2024[3], as regards the duty of non-recognition, the duty to distinguish in the dealings with Israel between its territory and the OPT, and the duty of non-assistance.
With regard to the duty to distinguish in the dealings with Israel between its territory and the OPT, the EU has taken care to fully comply with the obligations set out in paragraph 278 of the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 and point 4(d) of the UN General Council resolution of 13 September 2024[4].
The Commission continues to monitor the situation in the OPT and has already listed nine individuals and five entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The EU is firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace and has spared no effort to work with partners to revive the political process towards the implementation of a two-state solution.
- [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/qa3lblga/euco-conclusions-27062024-en.pdf.
- [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/2pebccz2/20241017-euco-conclusions-en.pdf.
- [3] Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176.
- [4] https://docs.un.org/en/A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1.