The recent decision by the United Kingdom and the European Union to pause trade negotiations and review their relationships with Israel marks a significant, yet insufficient, response to the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank. As Impact International for Human Rights Policies, we assert that these measures, while symbolically important, fall short of the urgent and robust action required to end ongoing violations of international law and to halt the deepening catastrophe in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Humanitarian Crisis and Legal Obligations

For 19 months, Gaza has endured relentless suffering, culminating in an 11-week blockade that has left thousands of trucks laden with humanitarian aid stranded at the border, unable to reach civilians in desperate need. The Israeli military’s expanded ground campaign and aerial bombardments have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians in recent days alone, with children bearing a disproportionate share of the suffering. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, described the situation as “catastrophic,” emphasizing that the limited aid permitted by Israel is “only a small fraction of what is needed” and calling for the “immediate, unhindered, and large-scale” delivery of humanitarian assistance.

International law is unequivocal: Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement stipulates that relations must be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, forming an “essential element” of the agreement. The International Court of Justice’s 2024 Advisory Opinion and the International Criminal Court’s recent actions—including the application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders—underscore the mounting evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian law and the potential commission of crimes under international law.

Current Measures: Welcome but Inadequate

The UK’s decision to formally pause Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Israel and impose targeted sanctions on three individuals, two illegal settler outposts, and two organizations promoting violence in the West Bank is a step in the right direction. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned the “utterly intolerable” suffering of children in Gaza and called for a ceasefire, while Foreign Secretary David Lammy has stressed that “blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners—this is indefensible and it must stop”. The UK has also summoned the Israeli ambassador and is reviewing cooperation under its 2030 bilateral roadmap.

Similarly, the EU’s decision—supported by 17 out of 27 foreign ministers—to review the €45 billion annual Association Agreement with Israel is a long-overdue acknowledgment of the need to hold Israel accountable for its obligations under international law. Kaja Kallas affirmed that “there is a strong majority in favour of a review of Article 2,” and that “aid must flow immediately, without obstruction and at scale”. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have welcomed these steps but have warned that they are “devastatingly late” and insufficient in the face of ongoing atrocities.

The Limits of Symbolic Action

Despite these moves, the current trade agreements between the UK, EU, and Israel remain in force, providing Israel with continued economic and diplomatic support even as it pursues policies that have been widely condemned as violations of international law. The UK is Israel’s fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment, with $1.13 billion invested in 2023 alone. The EU remains Israel’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding €45 billion annually.As long as these agreements remain intact, Israel’s government is shielded from the full consequences of its actions, undermining the credibility and effectiveness of European human rights policy.

Moreover, the sanctions imposed thus far are limited in scope, targeting only a handful of individuals and entities, while the broader machinery of occupation and military aggression remains untouched. EU sanctions on violent Israeli settlers have been prepared but are stalled by internal divisions, and calls for a full suspension of arms transfers and trade with Israeli settlements have yet to be heeded.

The Need for Escalated, Coordinated Pressure

The scale and urgency of the crisis demand far bolder action. As Amnesty International’s Eve Geddie has stated, “There is no time to lose, every delay costs human lives in Gaza. The EU and its member states must ban trade and investment that could contribute to the commission of genocide and other grave violations of international law”. The UK, EU, and their member states have a clear legal and moral obligation to prevent complicity in these crimes and to use all available levers to pressure Israel to comply with international law.

We therefore call for:

• Immediate Suspension of Trade Agreements: Both the UK and EU must move beyond pauses and reviews to the full suspension of their trade agreements with Israel until there is verifiable compliance with international humanitarian law, an end to the blockade of Gaza, and a cessation of settlement expansion and violence in the West Bank.

• Comprehensive Sanctions: Targeted sanctions should be expanded to include all individuals and entities responsible for or complicit in violations of international law, including senior government officials, military leaders, and companies profiting from the occupation and blockade.

• Arms Embargo: All transfers of arms and military equipment to Israel must be suspended, as called for by human rights organizations and in line with the UK’s own acknowledgment of the risk that exported arms may be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.

• Unhindered Humanitarian Access: The UK and EU must demand and enforce the immediate, safe, and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, holding Israel accountable for any obstruction in accordance with international law.

• International Accountability: Support for the International Criminal Court’s investigations and enforcement of arrest warrants against those accused of grave crimes must be unequivocal, and all forms of cooperation that risk contributing to violations of international law must be suspended.

The current pause in trade negotiations and the limited sanctions imposed by the UK and EU are wholly inadequate in the face of the unprecedented suffering and ongoing violations of international law in Gaza and the West Bank. As the largest trading partners and key diplomatic allies of Israel, the UK and EU have both the leverage and the responsibility to mount far greater pressure. Only through the immediate suspension of trade agreements, comprehensive sanctions, an arms embargo, and unwavering support for humanitarian and legal accountability can Europe fulfill its obligations and help bring an end to the cycle of violence, impunity, and human suffering.

Every day of delay costs more innocent lives. The stakes are too high for half-measures.