More EU member states must join growing calls for economic sanctions against Israel for its war crimes in Gaza and plans for further illegal settlements in the West Bank, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson.
Senator Stephenson made her comments after it was confirmed this week that Sweden and the Netherlands have become the latest countries to call on the EU to suspend trade with Israel.
She said:
“While any additional support for sanctions against Israel is welcome, more pressure needs to be brought to bear on the EU to force the bloc to finally act in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the deliberate starvation of the Palestinian people – which has officially been declared a famine by a UN body.
“People in Ireland are growing increasingly frustrated at the cowardly response from the EU to the carnage. Even after the brutal bombing of Nasser hospital, in which at least 20 people were killed including five journalists, the EU Commission could only muster up a tepid reaction, describing the attack as ‘unacceptable’.
“This will go down as one of the greatest understatements of all time and should have been called out for the flagrant breach of international law that it is.
“With momentum now growing for EU sanctions against Israel’s murderous regime, Ireland has an opportunity to show leadership on the world stage by enacting the Occupied Territories Bill – to include a ban on both goods and services – without further delay.”
August 29, 2025