On September 16, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to deliver her annual State of the Union address. Caroline Hansen, an external policy advocate at Amnesty International, and Claudio Franckavilla, Co-Director of EU Advocacy at Human Rights Watch, argue that this speech must serve as a critical opportunity to honor previous commitments. Specifically, they contend that the Commission should finally propose a comprehensive ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
Unfulfilled Promises
Von der Leyen’s proposals from the previous year gained significant media attention when she suggested suspending the trade portion of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers and settlers. However, nearly a year later, almost none of these measures have been adopted. While numerous European nations and allies have independently declared bans on trade with illegal settlements, Europe under von der Leyen’s leadership has lagged behind in taking similar action.
The initial proposals emerged following an official declaration of famine in Gaza, where Israeli authorities were accused of illegally obstructing humanitarian aid during what critics describe as a campaign of genocide. These suggestions followed massive protests across Europe demanding an end to the EU’s perceived inaction and complicity, alongside calls from several member states and civil society organizations to suspend the association agreement due to fundamental human rights violations by Israel.
Von der Leyen acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “It really pains me to say these words,” before announcing targeted sanctions against extremist Israeli ministers and settlers, along with the suspension of millions of euros in EU funding for Israeli projects. Despite this, progress stalled. Germany and Italy obstructed the suspension of the agreement, while Hungary and the Czech Republic used veto powers against sanctions on Israeli ministers. Von der Leyen remained silent on these internal divisions, contrasting sharply with her approach to Hungary’s repeated vetoes on sanctions against Russia.
Escalating Violations
While the EU condemned illegal settlements, von der Leyen resisted growing demands to ban EU trade that fuels the settlement economy and associated abuses. Her silence also extended to incidents involving Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar attacking EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, and subsequent meetings between EU Commissioner Davorina Štefic and Israeli officials in Tel Aviv, highlighting deepening fractures within the Commission.
The situation in the region continues to deteriorate. As of the previous year’s address, over 64,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza; the current death toll approaches 74,000 despite a purported ceasefire since October 2025. Israeli authorities continue to impose severe restrictions on aid, confine residents to approximately 30% of the Strip, and openly discuss plans for ethnic cleansing. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, settlement expansion has accelerated, leading to increased home demolitions, land confiscation, and fragmentation. At least 88 Palestinians, including 22 children, were killed in the West Bank alone this year, bringing the total since October 2023 to approximately 1,100.
In Lebanon, Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,383 people since March 2026, including hundreds of children, women, and medical workers, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Amnesty International has concluded that these actions constitute war crimes.
Responsibilities Under International Law
Von der Leyen bears the responsibility to ensure all EU policies, including trade and foreign affairs, comply with international law. She cannot hide behind humanitarian aid without addressing the root causes necessitating such assistance. The authors emphasize that under the Genocide Convention, recognizing a “serious risk” of genocide triggers a duty to prevent it, obligating all EU member states to use reasonable means to stop potential atrocities. This includes suspending the association agreement and sanctioning responsible officials. By the time of the previous address, Amnesty International, Al-Haq, B’Tselem, UN experts, and the International Association of Genocide Scholars had concluded that Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a finding later confirmed by an independent UN commission.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
