The Citizens Initiative advocating for the complete suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement has gathered the one million signatures necessary to prompt a reaction from the European Commission and the European Parliament.
A public petition demanding the full suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement due to alleged war crimes has collected one million signatures from all 27 EU member countries.
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According to EU regulations, the European Commission and the European Parliament are now obliged to evaluate the petition. This occurs amid ongoing sporadic Israeli attacks in northern Gaza, despite a ceasefire with Hamas established last October.
The text of the initiative holds the State of Israel accountable for “an unprecedented scale of civilian deaths and injuries, massive displacement of people, and the systematic destruction of hospitals and medical infrastructure in Gaza”.
It further highlights Israel’s “violations of numerous international law rules and obligations” and its failure “to prevent acts of genocide as mandated by the International Court of Justice” as justification for suspending the agreement.
The ECI was initiated by the European Left Alliance (ELA), in collaboration with civil society groups and pro-Palestinian organizations. National authorities have a three-month period to verify the signatures before the initiative can be officially presented.
Following this, the European Commission will be required to detail any steps it plans to undertake in response or clarify reasons for inaction. The European Parliament must conduct a hearing with the petition organizers and may deliberate and vote on a related resolution.
Nonetheless, the initiative faces significant challenges in gaining momentum.
The EU–Israel Association Agreement, effective since 2000, serves as the foundation for political dialogue and economic cooperation. The EU stands as Israel’s main trade partner, with goods trade totaling €42.6 billion in 2024.
In September 2025, amid Israel’s ongoing Gaza offensive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested a partial suspension of the agreement, citing a “man-made famine” and “a deliberate attempt to undermine the two-state solution.”
However, this proposal has been stalled due to deep divisions among member states. Countries such as Germany, Hungary, and the Czech Republic have opposed the suspension, blocking the qualified majority necessary to enforce trade restrictions.
Diplomatic sources informed Euronews that, in recent discussions, several member countries have reaffirmed their reluctance to advance the proposal.