An outpost in the occupied West Bank raises concerns about Israeli settlements. Photo by Sally Hayden.

A recent report commissioned for a group of MEPs suggests that the European Union should evaluate the possibility of suspending its free trade agreement with Israel, imposing restrictions on goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories, and ending visa-free travel for Israeli settlers into member states.

The legal opinion emphasizes the need for European governments to take concrete actions to avoid supporting Israel's unlawful occupation of Palestinian territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

According to the report, the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion from last year, which found Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory to be in violation of international law, places increased responsibilities on the EU and other governments.

Authored by Gleider Hernández, a professor of public international law at KU Leuven university, and Ramses Wessel, a professor of European law at the University of Groningen, the report highlights various options available to the EU to prevent indirect support for illegal Israeli settlements.

One of the recommendations is to consider suspending the association agreement with Israel, which includes a free trade deal, due to Israel's significant breaches of international law.

During a meeting in Brussels, foreign ministers from EU member states will review Israel's actions during the recent conflict in Gaza. The majority of member states have requested this review, which is being conducted by the EU's diplomatic corps.

The legal opinion also suggests that the EU should evaluate restrictions or a potential ban on the purchase of goods produced in Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories to prevent further entrenchment of these settlements.

In addition, the report recommends that European states reassess any licenses permitting the sale of weapons and arms to Israel.

The report was commissioned by MEPs Barry Andrews, Tineke Strik, Villy Søvndal, Matjaž Nemec, and Hana Jalloul Muro.