Irish parliament approves bill banning imports from Israeli illegal settlements

Ireland’s parliament has approved legislation banning imports of goods from Israeli illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, as Dublin presses ahead with one of Europe’s most far-reaching trade measures over Israel’s occupation.

The Israeli illegal Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) bill prohibits the import of goods from “certain Israeli illegal settlements”.

Those include residential, agricultural and business interests that lie outside Israel’s internationally recognised borders.

While Ireland was the first EU country to propose such a ban, Spain already implemented a package of import restrictions last October.

The centre-right coalition government, which drafted the legislation, has said its wording was guided by an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024.

The ICJ said Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and invasion of Gaza was illegal under international law.

Ireland has been among the most outspoken critics of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

It recognised a Palestinian state in 2024.