A civil petition calling for the complete suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel has reached one million signatures across all 27 EU member states.
Under EU rules on citizens' initiatives, the European Commission and the European Parliament are now obliged to examine the request.
This initiative comes at a time when the northern Gaza Strip continues to face occasional Israeli attacks, despite a ceasefire with Hamas that came into effect last October.
According to the text of the initiative, Israel is accused of "an unprecedented level of killing and injury to civilians," massive population displacement, and systematic destruction of health infrastructure in Gaza. The document also mentions violations of international law and failure to prevent serious crimes, referring also to the orders of the International Court of Justice.
The initiative was launched by the European Alliance of the Left in cooperation with civil society organizations and pro-Palestinian movements. National authorities have three months to verify signatures, after which it can be officially presented to the European institutions.
The European Commission will have to clarify whether it will take any concrete action or explain the reasons for inaction, while the European Parliament is expected to organize a hearing and potentially vote on a resolution.
However, the initiative faces political challenges. The Association Agreement, in force since 2000, is the basis for political dialogue and economic cooperation between the parties, while the EU remains Israel's largest trading partner.
In September 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a partial suspension of the agreement, but the initiative has stalled due to divisions among member states. Countries such as Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic have opposed the measures, preventing them from reaching the majority needed for a decision.
