Defence for Children International (DCI), together with over 100 human rights and humanitarian organizations, trade unions, and civil society groups, has co-signed a joint statement urging the European Union (EU) to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. This call follows mounting evidence, documented by UN bodies, international courts, and human rights organizations, of grave and persistent violations of international law by Israel, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, forced displacement, apartheid, and genocide against Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt), particularly in Gaza and the West Bank.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement, which governs political and economic relations, explicitly conditions its application on respect for human rights and democratic principles under Article 2. The joint statement expresses deep concern over the EU’s delay in reviewing Israel’s compliance, despite binding orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and overwhelming evidence of atrocity crimes, including the obstruction of life-saving humanitarian aid and attacks on essential infrastructure.
The signatories emphasize that, as parties to the Genocide Convention, EU Member States have a legal obligation to act preventively when there is a serious risk of genocide. They collectively call for at least a partial suspension of the agreement as a concrete measure to uphold the EU’s own principles and international legal obligations. The review process must be guided by legal accountability and principled diplomacy, with the suspension remaining in place until Israel complies with international law and ICJ rulings.
DCI stands in solidarity with Palestinian children and communities enduring systemic violence and injustice, urging EU institutions and Member States to take immediate, concrete action for accountability and to prevent further harm.
The statement is published in English