Amnesty International has condemned the European Union’s decision not to suspend its preferential trade deal with Israel, branding it a “cruel and unlawful betrayal” of international law and Palestinian human rights. The rights group accused the EU of prioritizing trade over accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza and the occupied territories.

Amnesty International harshly criticized the EU’s decision after foreign ministers failed to agree on sanctions, an arms embargo, or a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard said this refusal amounts to a betrayal not only of Palestinians but also of the EU’s own principles of upholding international law.

“This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in the EU’s history,” Callamard stated, accusing the bloc of choosing trade relations over accountability despite findings of Israel’s violations of human rights.

Callamard urged EU member states to act unilaterally by suspending all cooperation with Israel that contributes to violations of international law. She called for comprehensive embargoes on arms, surveillance equipment, and a ban on trade and investments linked to Israeli settlements.

“This is more than political cowardice,” she said. “Every time the EU fails to act, the risk of complicity in Israel’s actions grows.”

Despite mounting pressure, EU ministers failed to reach consensus on punitive measures against Israel. Amnesty criticized this as sending “a dangerous message to perpetrators of atrocity crimes that they will not only go unpunished but be rewarded.”