International Court of Justice advisory opinion of October 2025 and EU action on implementation

Priority question for written answer P-004321/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Lynn Boylan (The Left), Brando Benifei (S&D), Kathleen Funchion (The Left), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Evin Incir (S&D), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Daniel Attard (S&D), Irena Joveva (Renew), Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE), Catarina Martins (The Left), Marc Botenga (The Left), Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Hana Jalloul Muro (S&D), Rima Hassan (The Left), César Luena (S&D), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Thomas Bajada (S&D)

On 22 October 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an Advisory Opinion[1] ruling that Israel is in breach of international law by blocking aid, particularly Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention[2] and is under an obligation to provide adequate aid to Palestinians in the illegally Occupied Territories. The advisory opinion also outlined that Israel is under an obligation to facilitate relief schemes under the auspices of the United Nations, including through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Therefore it is clear that under international law, Israel is not currently meeting its obligations as outlined by the ICJ. Furthermore, the continuance in force of the Knesset legislation and the new NGO registration process is a breach of the international law obligations outlined by the ICJ. This means that Israel continues to be in breach of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.[3]

Therefore:

• 1.Will the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) ensure that the partial suspension of preferences under the Association Agreement is not withdrawn from Council?
• 2.Will the VP/HR propose sanctions against Israel for its breaches of international law if the Knesset legislation and NGO registration process are not repealed?
• 3.Will the VP/HR carry out an assessment of the EU's obligations in light of the advisory opinion?

Supporter[4]

Submitted: 4.11.2025

• [1] https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/196/196-20251022-adv-01-00-en.pdf.
• [2] https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.33_GC-IV-EN.pdf.
• [3] https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/delegations/israel/documents/eu_israel/asso_agree_en.pdf.
• [4] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE).