Hague Group discusses travel restrictions, settlement bans, and arms limits against Israel

Representatives from around 40 countries gathered in The Hague on Wednesday to examine a range of potential measures aimed at holding Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide in Gaza and its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.

The meeting, organised by the Hague Group and co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, marked the largest gathering of the coalition since it was established earlier this year. Officials from a wide array of countries — including Brazil, China, Malaysia, Qatar, Spain and Turkiye — attended the discussions in the Dutch city.

In a joint statement released after the meeting, the group framed the moment as a test of international resolve, warning that governments must choose between upholding international law or enabling violations of it. 

“The choice before every government is clear: complicity or compliance,” the statement said, adding that history would judge states not by their rhetoric but by the actions they take.

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Participants reviewed a set of proposals designed to strengthen accountability mechanisms related to Israel’s illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory and the genocide in Gaza.

One proposal under consideration calls on states to subject travellers carrying Israeli passports to additional scrutiny when entering their territories. The proposal argues that individuals who have served in the Israeli army should declare their military service under existing domestic laws relating to suspected war crimes. 

Because most Israeli citizens undertake mandatory military service after the age of 18, advocates of the measure say such screening could help ensure accountability for potential violations of international law.

A second policy initiative focuses on Israel’s settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Governments are being urged to formally recognise the illegality of the settlements and to prohibit imports produced in these areas. 

The proposal also encourages companies, financial institutions and other organisations to avoid providing recognition or material support that could entrench Israel’s unlawful presence in occupied land.

The third proposal centres on military cooperation with Israel. It calls for governments to halt the transfer or transit of arms, munitions and any dual-use materials that could support Israeli military operations. States are also urged to review procurement policies and public contracts to ensure that public funds are not indirectly supporting Israel’s occupation.

The Hague Group was established in January 2025 with the aim of coordinating international responses to what its founders describe as serious breaches of international law by Israel. The coalition initially included nine countries but has expanded rapidly, now drawing participation from around 40 states, among them major economies such as China.

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Although the proposals discussed this week have not yet been formally adopted, the group said they will be developed further before being presented at a future ministerial-level meeting, where governments will decide whether to implement the measures collectively.

The initiative reflects growing frustration among many states at what they see as the international community’s failure to enforce international law in the face of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the wider occupied Palestinian territory. 

Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military campaign in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated much of the enclave’s civilian infrastructure.

If adopted, the proposed measures would represent one of the most coordinated international efforts yet to impose tangible consequences on Israel over its policies in the occupied Palestinian territory.

READ: UN report says Israeli practices against Palestinians may amount to genocide