For over a year and a half, we’ve been witnessing a brutal war tear through Gaza. The atrocities of the October 7 attack by the terrorist group Hamas — which is still holding hostages — were weaponized by the Israeli government not to pursue justice, but to unleash a devastating war on the Palestinian people. This is the first genocide broadcasted live on social media. Seen through the eyes of doctors working by flashlight, parents pulling their children from rubble, journalists sending their final messages before being killed..

For a long time, all we could do was watch, share, mourn and feel powerless.

More than 54,000 people have been killed — mostly civilians. More than half of all the victims are women and children. 2 million people — nearly the entire population of Gaza — have been displaced.
The Israeli army is systematically destroying hospitals, schools, and basic infrastructure. People are being deliberately starved. Access to food, clean water, and lifesaving humanitarian aid is being blocked by the Israeli government.

And while all this is happening, the EU continues to reward Israel with preferential trade access through the EU–Israel Association Agreement. While the bombs fall and the suffering deepens, 28.8% of Israeli exports worth 15.9 billion euro a year go to the EU — Israel’s most important trading partner.

But this agreement has a condition - a human rights clause that obligates both parties to uphold basic human rights for the treaty to remain in effect. At this moment, it is undeniable that the Israeli government is systematically and persistently violating human rights.

Now, we have found a way to act, to suspend the trade agreement and pressure Israel to stop the genocide.

Already, 17 EU countries have launched a formal review of Israel’s compliance with its treaty obligations not to violate human rights. Now the EU must take the next step.

With our signatures, we are demanding that EU leaders act now. Here’s how:

1. Kaja Kallas must propose the suspension.
As EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kallas is leading the review of Israel’s violations of human rights. The review is expected by June 23rd — but there is no reason to wait. Kallas must call for the suspension of the EU–Israel trade agreement immediately.

2. The European Commission must vote in favour of the suspension.
The 27 commissioners—one from each EU member state—must advance the suspension process. With a simple majority, only 14 votes are needed to move it to a final vote in the European Council.

3. The European Council must finalize the suspension.
To suspend Israel’s trade privileges by suspending the agreement’s preferential trade component, a qualified majority of 15 member states—representing at least 65% of the EU population—must vote in favor.

The EU has suspended trade agreements because of human rights violations before — for far less than what we’re witnessing in Gaza. Now is the moment to do what should have been done long ago: suspend the EU–Israel trade agreement.

Sign the petition. Stop the genocide.