EU accused of dragging its feet over ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Foreign ministers will discuss options on Monday but decision on imports is not expected for months </p><p>The EU has been accused of dragging its feet over upholding international law, on the eve of a long-awaited debate about banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements.</p><p>EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday will discuss a possible ban on imports from the settlements, against an ongoing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/29/exhausted-palestinians-struggle-ceasefire-gaza-iran-israel-us-war-humanitarian-crisis">humanitarian crisis in Gaza</a>, where a UN inquiry found <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/23/israel-deliberately-targeting-gaza-children-to-commit-genocide-un-inquiry-finds">Israel to be committing a genocide</a>, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/18/west-bank-surge-settler-violence-israel-palestine">surging state-backed violence in the occupied West Bank</a>, which has killed <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/29/is-it-israels-aim-to-kill-our-children-west-bank-parents-implore-end-to-idfs-child-killings-with-impunity">at least 235 children</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/12/eu-accused-dragging-its-feet-ban-trade-israeli-settlements">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.