Cynthia Ní Mhurchú

A petition launched by Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland South, has been backed and co-signed by Cormac Ó Dúlacháin SC, Clíona Kimber SC and Ercus Stewart SC, as well as 23 junior barristers.

It asks the European Parliament to call on the European Commission and Council to review Israel’s compliance with the human rights clause, Article 2, of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and to determine whether continued trade with Israel remains compatible with EU law.

Ms Ní Mhurchú, herself a former barrister, has also raised a legal query as to whether any EU arms sales to Israel are now compatible with EU law.

“Like most other right thinking people, I am horrified at what is happening in Gaza and feel powerless,” Ms Ní Mhurchú said on Sunday.

“I have continually lobbied the EU Commission and Ursula Von Der Leyen directly for a suspension of the EU-Israel trade agreement on the basis that Israel is violating human rights clauses in that agreement.

“We cannot trade with a regime that kills women and children with impunity. Now, we are trying the legal route to stop trade with Israel.”

If accepted by the secretariat of the petitions committee, the petition will have a full hearing on the floor of the European Parliament in Brussels where Ms Ní Mhurchú hopes to force Commission officials to answer specific questions of law around continued trade with Israel.

EU foreign affairs ministers are meeting in Brussels today and will discuss a report from the EU’s high representative for human rights which, according to media reports, says Israel is likely in breach of the human rights clause of the trade agreement.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Saturday: “Ireland has long argued that clauses on human rights contained in the EU’s international agreement have to be respected, and that there must be serious consequences when they are not observed.”

He said the government would push for “concrete steps” at the European Council meeting.