12 countries impose sanctions on trade with settlements and Britain: ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and war crimes in Gaza

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced the imposition of a new set of trade restrictions on illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, in response to escalating violence perpetrated by extremist settlers and plans for settlement expansion in the West Bank. Miliband stated in a speech before the House of Commons yesterday that “Britain will ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.” He added that the measures include a ban on advertising products from illegal settlements in the UK, emphasizing that his country “will take action” against companies and individuals providing services such as construction or financing for settlement expansion. He affirmed that the new sanctions aim to “enable the realization of a two-state solution,” arguing that recent policies pursued by the Israeli government are inconsistent with this goal.

In a related development, Miliband posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account that there is growing evidence of “war crimes” committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and “ethnic cleansing” resulting from the terrorism of illegal settlers in parts of the occupied West Bank. He added that the situation in Palestine constitutes an “ethical emergency,” describing the actions of the Israeli occupation government in Gaza as “a stain on the world’s conscience” amid increasing “evidence of war crimes.”

Miliband criticized the Israeli government’s policy of “turning a blind eye” and the approval by some of its members of settlers’ actions, stressing that London would not stand idly by in the face of such acts.

Twelve countries, including Britain, announced yesterday their intention to impose sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, following an escalation in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages in the occupied territories.

A joint statement by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom stated that these countries “confirm their intention to impose national restrictions on trade in goods with settlements that are illegal under international law, or to support the imposition of European restrictions, or that they are seriously considering taking such measures and others, in accordance with their national procedures.”