FiMED – Follow-up

Pro-Palestinian French organisations are mobilising to support a bill submitted to the French parliament last July that aims to ban trade with Israeli settlements, with calls on MPs to back it before the vote expected in the National Assembly on 19 November.

The France Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS), together with Oxfam France, CCFD-Terre Solidaire and the Platform of French NGOs for Palestine, has launched a campaign to rally support for the proposal, calling on citizens to contact the MPs for their constituencies.

A proposal that goes beyond banning products

According to the supporting organisations, the Stop Commerce Colonies bill stands out for its broad scope compared with the measures announced by the French government in September, as it is not limited to banning goods produced in the settlements but also covers related services, investments and advertising.

In July, 18 organisations, associations and trade unions welcomed the tabling of the proposal, saying it then had the support of around 80 MPs from six parliamentary groups.

Parliamentary action amid a European debate

The French bill comes as calls are growing within Europe for trade measures against Israeli settlements. Human rights organisations have pointed to similar measures or initiatives in several European countries, while disagreement has persisted within the European Union over adopting a single bloc-wide measure.

In June, seven French human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, AFPS and CCFD-Terre Solidaire, called on the French government to push for a European ban on trade with the settlements, arguing that the scope of any measure should not be limited to products but should also cover services and investments linked to the settlements.

The organisations backing the proposal rely, among other things, on the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in July 2024 on the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In its opinion, the court concluded that states have obligations not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the unlawful situation it linked to Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, and it also addressed related economic and trade relations and investments.

What lies ahead for the bill?

According to the announcement published on 24 September by AFPS and its partners, the bill is expected to be put to a vote in the French National Assembly on 19 November 2026.

In the coming period, the organisations supporting it are seeking to increase the number of MPs backing the bill through a campaign aimed at contacting members of the National Assembly directly and urging them to vote in favour.