Legislation banning imports from Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territory is expected to receive Cabinet approval today, following years of campaigning by pro-Palestine activists.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris will present the Israeli Settlements Prohibition of Importation of Goods Bill 2025 to government ministers this morning. The proposed legislation represents the culmination of efforts that began with similar proposed laws in 2018.
The bill would prohibit trade with Israeli settlements by making any import from the Occupied Palestinian Territory an offence under the Customs Act 2015. This would give customs officers full powers of entry, inspection, search, arrest, seizure and forfeiture of goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.
The current proposal builds on the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill, which was introduced in 2018 but never enacted into law. Pro-Palestine campaigners have intensified their calls for such legislation over the past two years during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Harris has indicated openness to expanding the bill beyond goods to include services, stating he has requested legal advice from the Attorney General on whether such provisions are legally feasible.
Senator Frances Black, who originally tabled the Occupied Territories Bill in 2018, welcomed the government’s decision last month but emphasized that more comprehensive action is needed. “The onus is now on Government to act with the urgency this moment demands – to stand firmly against the horrific war crimes being committed both in Gaza and the West Bank,” Black said.
She called for a complete ban on all trade with Israeli settlements, including both physical goods such as agricultural products and intangible services like technology and IT services. Black noted that this comprehensive approach matches the standard set in her original bill and aligns with requirements outlined by the International Court of Justice.
The senator expressed confidence that legal details can be resolved when the bill reaches the Dáil Foreign Affairs Committee in June, stating that success depends on political will rather than technical obstacles.
If approved by Cabinet, the legislation would mark a significant policy shift in Ireland’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and could influence similar measures in other European Union member states.