Human rights legal organization Global Echo has analyzed commercial documents and official trade data from both Israeli government and Australian Bureau of Statistics, revealing at least US$5m (A$7.2m) of organic dates grown in illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank have been shipped to Australia over eight years.
The analysis indicates a significant amount of food produced in violation of international law is entering the market with misleading labeling as 'produce of Israel'. This practice not only undermines human rights but also poses risks for consumers who may be unknowingly purchasing products that come from territories controlled by an occupying power.