A European online citizens’ initiative is calling for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing serious breaches of international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza. The campaign highlights the devastating impact of military operations on civilians, including widespread casualties, mass displacement, and the deliberate destruction of medical facilities and hospitals. Organisers also condemned the blockade of aid, describing it as the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

The agreement, originally signed in 2000, underpins the political and economic ties between the EU and Israel. Supporters of the petition argue that maintaining the deal effectively legitimises and finances an entity accused of committing crimes against humanity and acts linked to genocide. To prompt formal consideration by European institutions, the initiative must collect one million valid signatures from at least seven member states by 13 January 2027. Currently, approximately 88,000 signatures have been registered.

The genocidal campaign in Gaza, which began on 7 October 2023, has drawn global attention and legal scrutiny. The International Court of Justice, acting on a request from South Africa, identified a plausible risk of genocide and urged measures to prevent such acts and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Israeli officials for crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the ongoing genocidal operations. Despite a ceasefire in October 2025, repeated violations and a worsening humanitarian situation have intensified calls for the EU to reconsider its normal economic and political relations with Israel.