Eight Muslim-majority countries have welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to restrict trade connected to Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, describing the move as an important step that could encourage other countries to take stronger action against settlement-related activities.
Foreign ministers from Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates expressed their support in a joint statement issued by Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry. The ministers said they hoped the UK’s decision would encourage broader international action in accordance with international law.
The statement called on the international community to build on the UK’s measures and take concrete steps against organisations and individuals involved in settlement activities that are considered illegal under international law. The eight countries said stronger international accountability could help prevent further expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the measures in Parliament, saying Britain would prohibit imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The UK also plans to take action against companies and individuals whose services contribute to settlement expansion. Legislation implementing the measures is expected to be introduced within six to nine months.
The eight foreign ministers also welcomed a broader declaration involving Canada, the UK, and 10 European countries. Those countries have expressed an intention to introduce national restrictions, support European-level restrictions, or consider additional measures concerning trade in goods connected to illegal settlements.
The European countries involved are Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Their involvement signals growing international attention toward the economic activities associated with Israeli settlements and the broader question of how governments should respond to settlement expansion.
According to the joint statement, the announced measures are consistent with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions, and the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024. The ministers also reiterated their call for Israel to reverse measures associated with settlement activity and actions they say are aimed at changing the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The ministers further stressed that Gaza remains an integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They called for the full and immediate implementation of United States President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, particularly to address humanitarian needs, support reconstruction and recovery, and create conditions for a lasting peace.
At the heart of the statement was a renewed call for a two-state solution. The eight countries said that a just, lasting and comprehensive peace requires an independent, sovereign, contiguous and viable Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Beyond the diplomatic language, the development reflects a larger question about whether international pressure can translate into meaningful changes on the ground. Trade restrictions alone cannot resolve a conflict that has lasted for generations, but decisions affecting economic relationships can send a powerful political message about how governments view international law and settlement expansion.
For people watching the conflict from around the world, the significance of these developments goes beyond one country’s trade policy. Each new measure raises expectations that international commitments will be followed by practical action. The real test now is whether these announcements will lead to broader cooperation, stronger accountability and, ultimately, meaningful progress toward a peace in which Palestinians and Israelis can live with security, dignity and political rights.
