Ireland to introduce bill banning trade with Israeli firms in occupied Palestinian territories

Ireland’s deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs, trade and defence announced on Saturday that the country will push forward a bill suspending trade with Israeli firms based in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Tanaiste Simon Harris stated in a post on X that his government is set to push for a formal decision on the legislation, knows as the Occupied Territories Bill, next Tuesday, further expressing his hope that the Committee on Foreign Affairs would begin reviewing it in June.

In announcing his plan, Harris also condemned the starvation of children and the use of food as a weapon of war amid Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has prevented thousands of aid lorries - including those funded by Irish Aid intended for over 6,000 Palestinians - from entering for more than 80 days.

He stressed, "The world has to act and the world has not done nearly enough."

He also welcomed the EU’s recent move to review the EU-Israel Association Agreement, describing it as a step Ireland firmly supports.

However, he maintained that the review alone would not make a significant impact, stating, "It needs to be more than reviewed. It needs to be suspended because it cannot be business as usual whilst this is being carried out in Gaza."

According to The Irish Times on Saturday, Harris also said the bill would need to address legal and economic concerns. Campaigners in Ireland have called for the legislation to be expanded to specifically target platforms such as Airbnb and other online letting services that advertise rental properties in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for tourists.

Ireland has previously claimed that, based on its legal advice, services cannot be included in the bill due to EU law.

However, campaigners argue that they have obtained expert legal advice contradicting this position -outlined in an open letter addressed to Harris and Prime Minister Micheal Martin issued earlier this week.

The letter was backed by 350 signatories, including lawyers and academics, who firmly argued that they "do not consider there to be insurmountable legal obstacles" under Irish, European, or international law that would prevent legislation banning the import of goods and services from Israeli settlements.

The letter also expressed "deep concern" over the Irish government’s "continued failure" to take "necessary steps to comply with its international legal obligations in relation to the crisis in Palestine".

In February, a report by British newspaper The Guardian revealed that more than 700 rooms were being advertised in hotels, apartments and other holiday rentals located in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on major tourism platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com.

The findings added to growing criticism from human rights organisations against companies operating in these settlements.

The Irish Times reported that Ireland has highlighted its concerns over the potential political, diplomatic and economic repercussions of moving forward with the bill.

The United States reportedly conveyed its opposition to the proposed legislation to the Irish government earlier this year, while pro-Israel lobby groups in the US are said to have raised the issue with American politicians.

Ireland joins growing international pressure on Israel, following the expansion of its military operations in Gaza and a two-month aid blockade that has severely worsened shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine in the Palestinian territory, raising fears of famine.