UAE and Seven Arab and Muslim Nations Applaud UK Trade Restrictions on Illegal Israeli Settlements

The UAE and seven other Arab and Muslim countries have publicly welcomed the UK government’s decisive action to ban imports of goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Alongside the import ban, the UK has imposed sanctions on services linked to these settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

In sharp response to the UK's policy shift, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced that his country will close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between Israel and key Western allies.

In a unified statement released on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia expressed hope that the UK's measures would inspire other nations to implement similar actions. They emphasized that such steps align with international law and serve to hold accountable the organizations and individuals participating in illegal settlement activities.

Furthermore, the ministers expressed support for a joint declaration issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK. This group signaled their intent to introduce national or European-level restrictions on trade involving goods from settlements widely deemed illegal under international law.

Urging broader global action, the ministers called upon the international community to build upon these trade restrictions and adopt concrete measures to halt activities that sustain Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. They underscored that these restrictions align with international law and relevant UN resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 2334 from 2016 and the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion issued in July 2024. Additionally, they reiterated demands for Israel to reverse measures affecting settlement activities and altering the geographic and demographic makeup of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Addressing the broader regional context, the ministers stressed that Gaza remains an integral component of the occupied Palestinian territory. They called for the complete and immediate implementation of US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, asserting that the plan is vital for establishing security, addressing humanitarian crises, promoting reconstruction, and securing lasting peace. Finally, the ministers reaffirmed that the only viable solution for a comprehensive and just peace is the two-state solution, establishing an independent, sovereign, contiguous, and viable Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.