ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed steps taken by the United Kingdom and other countries against illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, saying such measures reflect growing international opposition to actions that violate international law and undermine efforts for peace in the region.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson, Pakistan welcomed the decision announced by the United Kingdom to impose a ban on items originating from the illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied West Bank.
The spokesperson said that the continued expansion of illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory constitutes a blatant violation of international law as well as relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
“Such illegal actions are undermining international efforts aimed at achieving a two-state solution as well as peace and stability in the region,” the spokesperson said.
In this regard, Pakistan also welcomed the announcement by several other countries, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, to consider similar measures and support such efforts against the illegal Israeli settlements.
The spokesperson stated that Pakistan hopes that these measures will send a clear and unequivocal message of rejection of illegal actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Pakistan reaffirmed its continued support for the people of Palestine in their just struggle for self-determination and said it would continue to support all efforts aimed at establishing a sovereign, independent and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
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Pakistan Welcomes Steps Against Illegal Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
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— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 9, 2026
UK Announces Sanctions on Illegal Israeli Settlements
On Tuesday, the UK announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing Israel’s government of turning a blind eye to the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians by illegal settlers.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the move marked the “beginning of a new approach” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which “not only calls out injustice and suffering but acts”.
The UK sanctions will ban goods from illegal Israeli settlements but also act against companies and individuals providing services for illegal settlement expansion.
The sanctions were launched alongside France and Canada, which in a joint statement with the UK said the action “marks a further turning point in our approach to protecting the two-state solution”.
Settlements are illegal under international law, and there has been a rise in violence towards Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by settlers in recent months.
Miliband said the official view of the government was that the Israeli occupation of the West Bank was unlawful because of the “entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty, and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements”.
12 Countries Reaffirm Commitment to Two-State Solution
The UK also issued a joint statement with 11 other countries; France, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.
It said the group was unequivocally committed to the two-state solution and would introduce national measures or support European restrictions on trading goods with West Bank settlements.
The 11 European countries and Canada announced plans to introduce national restrictions on trade in goods with Israeli settlements that are illegal under international law, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced.
“Today, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Sweden confirm their intention to impose national restrictions on trade in goods with settlements that are illegal under international law and/or to support European restrictions to this effect,” said a joint declaration issued by Barrot.
