Human Rights and Humanitatian Organisations Call the EU to Uphold it Principles and Legal Obligations.
On March 30th, 2026, the Israeli Knesset voted to expand the use of the death penalty in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In response, CIDSE joined other human rights and humanitarian organisations in calling on the EU to uphold its stated principles and legal obligations by suspending the trade component of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The gravity of this situation for the Palestinian people can’t be overstated. The new Israeli death penalty law breaches basic safeguards recognised by the international community, and its discriminatory nature and lack of due process violate protections present in international humanitarian and human rights law. This represents a dangerous shift with grave implications for Palestinian human rights and international law.
The urgency of this moment can’t be overstated. Despite the EU’s longstanding opposition to the death penalty and repeated diplomatic engagement, meaningful action has yet to follow. The EU must move beyond statements of concern and uphold its legal obligations by suspending, as a minimum immediate measure, the trade component of the EU-Israel Association Agreement — as proposed by President von der Leyen in September 2025.
Additional Resources:
- Catholic Leaders and Organisations Call to Protect Palestinian Life under Occupation, see here.
CIDSE contact: Dorien Vanden Boer, Israel & occupied Palestinian Territory Policy Officer, vandenboer(at)cidse.org
Cover photo: Israeli Knesset, Adobe Stock.