Ireland's senate has voted in favour of a bill banning the importation of products from Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, paving the way for the country to become the first EU nation to enforce a boycott.

The bill, which has faced angry Israeli opposition, prohibits "trade with and economic support for illegal settlements in territories deemed occupied under international law".

Having been approved in the upper house of the Irish parliament, the Seanad, the legislation will now need to get through more Seanad votes and then the lower house before becoming law.

At Israel's urging, a previously scheduled vote in January was delayed at the Irish government's request. Israel's foreign ministry, which is headed by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had summoned Ireland's ambassador to Israel, Alison Kelly, at the time.