Pakistan welcomes UK ban on settlement imports

Pakistan joined seven Arab and Muslim countries on Wednesday in welcoming the United Kingdom’s decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, officials said. The ministers’ joint statement praised the trade measure and urged other states to consider comparable steps. Reaction pending.

Ministers cite international law

The Foreign Office said the seven states — Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — regard the ban as consistent with international law, citing United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 (2016) and the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of July 19, 2024. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused the Israeli government of turning a “blind eye” to what he called “ethnic cleansing” by settlers, the statement noted.

The ministers also welcomed an earlier joint declaration by 12 additional countries that signalled intent to pursue similar measures and called for accountability for settlement organisations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activity, the Foreign Office said. The statement reiterated support for a Two-State solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders and urged Israel to rescind measures altering the demographic and geographic character of the occupied territory.

Officials urged peers to consider similar measures and said they will review progress by October 9, 2026.