Ireland is set to become the first European Union member to outlaw trade with Israeli businesses operating in occupied Palestinian territories. Foreign and Trade Minister Simon Harris announced the legislation this week, declaring it a response to escalating “war crimes” in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a weapon.

“It is clear war crimes are taking place, children are being starved,” Harris said. “The world has not done enough and we need to act.”

The legislation—still in draft stage—targets physical goods like produce and manufactured items. However, legal ambiguity surrounds whether services, including tourism platforms such as Airbnb, can be included. Airbnb, which has its European headquarters in Dublin, may be subject to Irish jurisdiction, according to legal experts and advocates.

A 2023 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice urged countries to avoid economic ties that sustain the Israeli occupation, bolstering Ireland’s legal footing. More than 400 Irish legal scholars have voiced support, stating that no legal barrier prevents a services ban.

Israel strongly condemned the move, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling European leaders they are “on the wrong side of history” if they review trade ties over Gaza operations. The European Commission declined to comment, though many EU states have voted to review the bloc’s broader trade agreement with Israel.

Ireland’s imports from settlements are minor—just €685,000 over four years—but officials view the move as a symbolic and legal precedent. Proponents compare it to Ireland’s 1980s ban on South African apartheid goods.