Petition: PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF GAZA – Pass the Occupied Territories Bill in Full.
ActionAid is urging the Irish Government to take a firm stand by passing the Occupied Territories Bill in full, without amendments or dilution. This critical legislation will send a powerful message that Ireland will not tolerate the ongoing oppression and displacement of Palestinians.
The need for action is urgent. Women and girls in Gaza are bearing the heaviest burden of this crisis. With hospitals under siege, schools and shelters destroyed, and thousands of lives at risk, they are being denied safety, dignity, and a chance to rebuild.
The Occupied Territories Bill is not just a piece of legislation—it’s a lifeline. By passing it in full, the Irish Government can lead the way in upholding international law and defending the rights of innocent civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
This is our moment to stand for justice and equality. Let’s ensure the bill is passed without compromise and show solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Sign the petition now and join the call for Ireland to act!
The Occupied Territories Bill was drafted by Gerry Liston of the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) on behalf of Sadaka – the Ireland Palestine Alliance.
The OTB was introduced to the Seanad by Senator Frances Black in January 2018 and was passed by the Seanad in December of that year. Then, in January 2019, the Bill was introduced to the Dáil by Fianna Fáil, where it passed its first vote and second votes by resounding majorities.
After going into government in 2020, Fianna Fáil reversed its support for the Bill, citing advice of the Attorney General that the Bill would be incompatible with EU law.
The Irish government has opposed the OTB based on advice of the Attorney General that only the EU can ban trade with illegal settlements. In a newly published legal opinion, two leading experts on EU law have stated that Ireland is fully entitled to pass the Occupied Territories Bill, criticising the Attorney General’s advice as “erroneous” and “at odds with settled EU case law”
The experts state that: “It is striking that the AG should have ignored the judgements in [two cases] where the European Court of Justice expressly held that Member States may deviate from EU law, including… on public policy grounds in order to protect fundamental rights… The analysis and conclusion in the AG Opinion that the Occupied Territories Bill is inconsistent with EU law [is] not only unconvincing but also at odds with settled ECJ case law.”
The Bill remains on the Order Paper of the Dáil and can be progressed from where it was left in 2019 with majority support from TDs.
Sign the Petition!
Sign the petition to urge Ireland to pass the Occupied Territories Bill without amendments. Together, we can stand with Gaza’s women and girls and fight for justice.
