Pakistan, along with seven other Arab and Muslim countries, on Wednesday welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

UK imposed the trade measures on Tuesday, alongside Canada and France. The decision was announced by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who accused the Israeli government of turning a “blind eye” to what he called “ethnic cleansing” by settlers in the West Bank.

Meanwhile, a joint statement by the foreign ministers of 12 nations, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, also expressed an intention to follow suit and stressed that the Israeli government’s actions in the West Bank undermined the possibility of a two-state solution.

A joint statement by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, issued by the Foreign Office (FO), expressed hope that the international community would take similar action in accordance with international law and “hold accountable settlement organisations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activities”.

The ministers also welcomed an earlier joint statement on the two-state solution issued by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

“They encourage the international community to build on these steps and adopt concrete measures to bring an end to activities that support or sustain illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the FO stated.

It added that the eight countries considered the ban to be in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016).

They also viewed the decision as consistent with the International Court of Justice’s July 19, 2024, advisory opinion, which requires states “not to recognise as legal the situation arising from Israel’s unlawful occupation and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s occupation”.

“In this regard, they reiterate their call for Israel to rescind all measures taken in connection with settlement activities and other measures aimed at altering the geographic and demographic character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” the joint statement read.

The joint statement also stressed that Gaza is 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 the only viable path to a lasting and comprehensive peace was the implementation of a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent, sovereign, contiguous and viable Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967, borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law.

Islamabad stands by Palestine

Earlier today, Pakistan welcomed the United Kingdom-led decision to impose trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, saying that the illegal settlements undermined efforts towards a two-state solution, a separate statement from the FO read.

In a statement on its X account, the FO welcomed the decision and said: “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.”

Maintaining that Israel’s actions were a hindrance to a two-state solution, the FO also welcomed the joint statement by the 12 countries, which it said were considering “similar measures and support[ing] such efforts against the illegal Israeli settlements”.

“Pakistan hopes that these measures will send a clear and unequivocal message of rejection of illegal actions in the occupied Palestinian territory,” the statement said.

Islamabad reiterated support for Palestine, vowing to stand by its people and “their just struggle for self-determination”.

In response to the UK’s actions, Israel ordered the closure of the UK’s consulate in Jerusalem earlier today. It also said it would expel British representatives at a centre monitoring the US-brokered ceasefire plan in Gaza, bar British training for Palestinian Authority forces and ban 12 Britons, mostly members of parliament, from visiting the country.

Miliband, in response, condemned Israel’s actions as “regrettable and damaging”. Speaking to BBC Radio, he also rejected suggestions that the sanctions would impact intelligence cooperation with Israel.

“We have important intelligence and security relationships with Israel, and I’m confident they will continue,” he said, declining to go into details.

“And I was very clear yesterday that we do believe in working with our Israeli partners when it comes to the threats they face from Iran,” he added.