LONDON/ISLAMABAD (MNN); Pakistan and seven other Arab and Muslim countries have welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to impose trade restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The UK announced the measures on Tuesday in coordination with Canada and France. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband criticised the Israeli government, accusing it of turning a “blind eye” to what he described as “ethnic cleansing” by settlers in the West Bank.
Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they hoped other countries would take similar steps in accordance with international law and hold settlement organisations and individuals accountable for illegal settlement activities.
The ministers also welcomed a joint statement by 12 European countries, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, expressing their intention to consider similar measures against Israeli settlements.
According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory violates international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334.
The seven countries said the UK-led measures were also consistent with the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion, which called on states not to recognise as lawful the situation resulting from Israel’s occupation or provide assistance in maintaining it.
The foreign ministers urged Israel to withdraw measures linked to settlement activities and actions aimed at changing the geographic and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory.
They further stressed that Gaza remains an integral part of Palestine and called for the full and immediate implementation of US President Donald Trump’s “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”.
The ministers reiterated that a lasting and comprehensive peace could only be achieved through a two-state solution, with an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state established on the basis of the June 4, 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital.
Islamabad reiterates support for Palestine
Pakistan’s Foreign Office separately welcomed the UK’s decision, saying the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements was undermining international efforts to achieve a two-state solution.
Islamabad said the new measures should send a clear message rejecting actions that violate international law in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Pakistan also expressed support for countries considering similar restrictions against Israeli settlements and reaffirmed its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
Israel retaliates against UK
Following the UK’s decision, Israel ordered the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem. It also announced plans to expel British representatives involved in monitoring the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire arrangements, stop British training for Palestinian Authority forces and impose entry bans on 12 British citizens, most of them lawmakers.
Foreign Secretary Miliband condemned the Israeli measures as “regrettable and damaging”.
Speaking to BBC Radio, he rejected suggestions that the sanctions would affect intelligence and security cooperation between Britain and Israel, saying the two countries continued to have important security ties.
He added that Britain remained committed to working with Israel on security threats posed by Iran.
