Australia has been importing dates from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank under labels describing them as Israeli produce, according to research reported by Guardian Australia. Legal rights group Global Echo examined trade records and official data from Israel and the Australian Bureau of Statistics covering 132 agricultural shipments between 2018 and 2026, and found that 85 of them included settlement goods, mainly organic dates worth at least US$5m.
The share has grown recently, with 20 of 24 date shipments since January 2025 traced to settlements. The settlements are illegal under international law, and Australia recognises the land as part of a Palestinian state. Australia has no ban on such imports and no rule requiring them to be labelled as coming from occupied territory. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the government is not seeking a blanket ban.
Source: The Guardian Australia
