One Million Sign EU Petition Urging Suspension of EU–Israel Agreement

More than one million people across the European Union have signed a citizen petition urging the bloc to suspend its association agreement with Israel over alleged crimes committed during the war in Gaza.

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The initiative has reached the threshold required under the EU’s European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) mechanism, meaning the European Commission and the European Parliament must now formally review the proposal.

Organisers say the campaign will continue collecting signatures with a target of 1.5 million before submissions close.

Petition targets EU–Israel agreement

The petition calls for the full suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement, a treaty that forms the basis of political relations and economic cooperation between the European Union and Israel.

In the text of the initiative, organisers accuse Israel of carrying out “an unprecedented level of killing and injury of civilians” in Gaza, as well as causing widespread displacement and damage to hospitals and medical infrastructure.

They argue that Israel has breached several obligations under international law and cite what they describe as a failure to prevent genocide following provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice.

The campaign was launched by the European Left Alliance (ELA) together with civil society groups and pro-Palestinian organisations.

Next steps under EU rules

Under the European Citizens’ Initiative process, once the required number of signatures has been collected across the EU’s 27 member states, national authorities have three months to verify them.

After verification, the proposal can be formally submitted to the European Commission.

The Commission must then set out whether it intends to act on the request or explain why it does not plan to do so. The European Parliament is also required to organise a hearing with the organisers and may hold a debate or vote on a resolution.

Although the initiative compels EU institutions to consider the proposal, it does not oblige them to introduce legislation or policy changes.

Divisions among member states

Diplomats say the prospect of suspending the EU–Israel Association Agreement remains uncertain due to divisions among EU member states.

The agreement, which entered into force in 2000, provides the framework for diplomatic relations and trade between the two sides. The European Union is Israel’s largest trading partner, with trade in goods reaching €42.6bn in 2024.

Calls for suspending the agreement intensified during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

In September 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed partially suspending the agreement, citing what she described as a “man-made famine” in Gaza and warning that the conflict threatened prospects for a two-state solution.

However, the proposal has not advanced.

Several EU governments, including Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, have opposed the move. Their position has prevented the formation of the qualified majority required to introduce trade restrictions.

According to diplomats who spoke to Euronews, a number of member states reiterated their reluctance to proceed during recent discussions.

While the citizens’ initiative now obliges EU institutions to examine the proposal, political divisions within the bloc mean any decision to suspend the agreement would face significant hurdles.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 April 2026