Rights groups urge EU to ban trade with Israeli settlements ahead of von der Leyen address

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to revive measures banning trade with Israeli settlements, ahead of her annual State of the Union address. The request signals renewed pressure on the EU to differentiate between Israel and its occupied territories, though no concrete policy change has been announced. The outcome could affect EU-Israel trade relations and set a precedent for settlement-related sanctions.