Ireland joins EU push to ban trade with Israeli settlements amid flotilla backlash

Ireland joined a push within the European Union on Friday to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements as anger mounted across Europe over Israel’s treatment of international activists detained for taking part in a flotilla bound for Gaza.

What happened: Ahead of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Friday, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defense Helen McEntee wrote on X that “Ireland joined nine Member States in calling on the European Commission to bring forward proposals to ban trade with illegal settlements.”

“Europe cannot continue to defend a rules-based international order while permitting trade with illegal settlements,” she added.

The EU currently requires goods produced in Israeli settlements in occupied territories to be clearly labelled so consumers can distinguish them from products originating within Israel’s internationally recognized borders. A ban on trade with settlements would require a supermajority of EU member states.

On Friday, the Netherlands formally approved a national import ban on Israeli settlement products, following similar measures adopted in 2025 by Spain and Slovenia. 

Background: The issue has gained renewed urgency this week after Israeli authorities intercepted an international flotilla attempting to reach Gaza and detained dozens of activists and politicians on board. More than 400 men and women from 44 countries took part in the flotilla, which set sail with more than 50 boats from Turkey last Thursday.

Following the interception, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, posted videos on X showing the activists bound with their heads on the floor, another activist being pushed to the ground and Ben-Gvir himself taunting the activists. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Ben-Gvir's actions were "not in line with Israel's values."

The flotilla's organizer, Global Sumud Flotilla, alleged on Friday that activists detained by Israel had been subjected to serious abuses, including sexual assault. "At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets at close range. Tens of people’s bones broken," the group posted on X. Israel's prison ‌service denied the allegations in a statement to Reuters. 

McEntee said on Friday that the 14 Irish citizens detained by Israel had been deported to Turkey and were “recovering.” Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, she said she was “horrified” by the footage posted. Poland’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it had requested the Interior Ministry impose a visa ban on Ben-Gvir.

Know more: Italy’s leadership also responded sharply, deepening a rift between Italy and Israel. 

A Wednesday statement by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni read, “Italy also demands an apology for the treatment of these protesters and for the total disregard shown for the explicit requests of the Italian government.” It added that Italy’s Foreign Ministry would summon the Israeli ambassador “to request formal clarification on what happened.”

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X Thursday that he had requested EU sanctions against Ben-Gvir “for the unacceptable acts committed against the flotilla, seizing the activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, in violation of the most basic human rights.”

Italy’s relationship with Israel has come under increasing strain in recent months. In April, Meloni announced that Italy would halt the automatic renewal of its bilateral defense agreement with Israel after Israeli forces fired warning shots at an Italian logistics convoy serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.

Italy suspended military cooperation with Israel following the October 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. Italy no longer sells weapons to Israel, purchases Israeli weapons or conducts joint military exercises with the Israeli military.