Ireland passes law banning imports from Israeli settlements

Ireland’s lower house approved on 8 July 2026 a bill that would prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. The legislation, called the Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, is based on the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion that the occupation violates international law.

The measure targets agricultural, industrial and manufactured products, but excludes services, a point criticised by opposition TDs who urged a broader ban. The government said extending the ban to services would be legally complex and risk EU‑law conflicts. The bill now awaits approval by the Irish senate before becoming law.

Economic impact is expected to be minimal – trade with the settlements totaled less than €1 million between 2020 and 2024. Spain enacted a similar import ban in October 2025, and Ireland’s move adds pressure on the EU, which has not yet agreed on collective sanctions. Israel responded with diplomatic retaliation, recalling its ambassador and banning two Israeli ministers from entering Ireland. The legislation follows Ireland’s May 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state and reflects Dublin’s broader policy of aligning trade rules with its interpretation of international legal obligations.