Nine European countries have called on the European Commission to examine the compatibility of trade linked to Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory with international law.
According to a post by Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévost on the X platform, the nine countries are Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
Brivo explained that this request is consistent with the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which stipulates the need to avoid engaging in trade that contributes to the perpetuation of the illegal situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Brivot stressed that protecting international law is a shared responsibility of all countries.
He stressed that legal clarity must guide political decisions in a rules-based international order.
In a subsequent post on the X platform, Prevot explained that the European Commission's request to the nine countries is to examine how to align their policies with international law, particularly with regard to trade in goods and services linked to illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice issued its advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israeli actions in the occupied Palestinian territory, which affirmed that Israel must cease the occupation and end its illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory as soon as possible, immediately cease any new settlement activity, and remove all settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory.
The Court emphasized that all UN Member States are under an obligation not to recognize the legitimacy of the situation arising from Israel's illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, and not to provide aid or assistance in maintaining the situation resulting from Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
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9 European countries demand a review of trade with Israeli settlements.