Ireland has moved to table a bill that would ban imports from the occupied territories of Palestine, a first such move by an EU member to curtail products made by Israeli settlements in Gaza.

The settlements consist of residential, agricultural, and commercial developments in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, located beyond Israel’s internationally recognised borders.

How will it affect trade?

If the bill is passed, Ireland would make importing goods from the occupied regions of Palestine a criminal offence. However, the law will not seek a boycott of Israeli products.

A ban on exports from the occupied territories is largely symbolic, given that trade is limited to physical goods like dates, oranges, olives, and some timber, with a total value of just €685,000 over the four years from 2020 to 2024.

Conor O’Neill, the head of advocacy and policy at Christian Aid Ireland, said, “This is a massive welcome step, it is the first time a trade measure of this kind has been applied to Israel by any EU country. After decades of saying and repeating that illegal settlements are totally illegal and that the EU is opposed to them, this is the first time that words are being matched with action.”

What exactly happened?

On Monday (May 26), a huge crowd collected in Liverpool for Liverpool FC’s victory parade, which was taking place in the city centre after the team won the Premier League. Large numbers had gathered to watch the parade when the incident happened on Water Street around 6 pm, a little before the parade’s finishing point.

The Liverpool bus had passed on that street when a dark-coloured vehicle with a broken rear window swerved into the crowd and hit parade-goers, leaving bodies on the ground. A video on social media shows people rushing to aid the victims, including some who were trapped beneath the vehicle, and surrounding the vehicle once it stopped.

Officers surrounded the car very soon after, as witnesses attempted to stop the driver, who was eventually detained by police.

Another video, which is now making the rounds on social media, shows members of the crowd hitting the vehicle before the driver aggressively reversed and then accelerated forward.

Some witnesses recounted the horror they experienced at the victory parade. Harry Rashid, 48, from Solihull, near Birmingham, central England, who was at the parade with his wife and two young daughters, told AFP, “It was extremely fast. Initially we just heard the pop, pop, pop of people just being knocked off the bonnet of the car. It was horrible and you could hear the bumps as he was going over the people.”

Another witness, identified as Mike Maddra told the news agency that the “car turned left, mounted pavement, come towards us and runs towards the buildings.”

Another speaking to the BBC recounted how the car missed his family by inches. “There were screams ahead of us and suddenly this dark blue car just came through the crowd. It just wasn’t stopping — I managed to grab my daughter who was with me and jump out of the way.

Off-duty BBC reporter Dan Ogunshakin, who was at the victory parade, was quoted as saying, “What had once been an atmosphere of celebration and joy and happiness suddenly turned into fear and terror and disbelief,” adding it became “hell on Earth”.

Natasha Rinaldi, who was watching the parade from her friend’s living room, told Sky News: “It was so loud. People sounded desperate. And then we looked out the window and we saw the car (had) run over people.

“Then people started rushing to go after the driver and they tried to break the car. The police did everything to block and to push people away. We could just hear screams and screams. We were very confused.”

She said “people had stopped the car” and were knocking on the window “and trying to speak to the driver”.

Who’s behind the car ramming incident?

Police said a 53-year-old man, who they described as white British and from the Merseryside area, has been arrested.

The man arrested is believed to be the driver of the vehicle that crashed into the crowd, and according to Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims it isn’t terrorism.

She said: “Extensive inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it is vital that people do not speculate or spread misinformation on social media. I know that people will understandably be concerned by what has happened tonight.

“What I can tell you is that we believe this to be an isolated incident, and we are not currently looking for anyone else in relation to it. The incident is not being treated as terrorism.”

What about the injured?

A total of 27 people were injured in the car ramming incident with two sustaining serious injuries, including one child. Another 20 were treated for minor injuries at the scene and others self-presented at hospitals on Merseyside later in the day.

David Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service said: “We can confirm that our teams treated 20 patients at the scene for minor injuries, and these did not need hospital treatment.

“Twenty-seven patients in total were taken to hospital by ambulance, and we believe two of those, including one of the children, have sustained serious injuries.”

Firefighters had to rescue four people, including a child, who were trapped under the car that hit pedestrians, Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer said. “Our crews rapidly lifted the vehicle, removed three adults and one child from beneath and passed them to our ambulance service colleagues,” Searle said.

“We then worked with emergency service partners to ensure casualties received medical treatment and transport to hospital as quickly as possible.”

What has been the response after the car ramming incident?

Shortly after the horrific car ramming, the Liverpool Football Club said they were working with Merseyside police, adding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by this serious incident.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was being updated on the situation and thanked the police for their swift action. “The scenes in Liverpool are appalling – my thoughts are with all those injured or affected,” he said.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the scenes as “truly shocking”.

She said: “Thank you to the police and emergency services for their swift response to the truly shocking and horrendous scenes in Liverpool this evening. Thinking of all those affected at this very difficult time. The police are investigating and I’m being kept updated on developments.”

Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson also released a statement following the incident. He said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this appalling incident in the city centre. It has cast a very dark shadow over what had been a joyous day.

“We are working closely with Merseyside Police to support their investigation, and with other relevant organisations to make sure whose affected get the appropriate support.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Premier League said: “Everyone at the Premier League is shocked by the appalling events in Liverpool this evening, and our heartfelt thoughts go out to all those injured and affected. We have been in contact with Liverpool FC and have offered our full support following this serious incident.”