UK curbs on Israeli settlements hailed

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan, along with seven other Muslim nations, on Wednesday welcomed the decision of the United Kingdom to curb imports from Israeli settlers in occupied Palestine.

A joint statement by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, published by the Foreign Office (FO), expressed the hope that the decision would help "mobilise the international community" to take similar actions in line with international law and "hold accountable" settlement organisations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activities.

"The ministers of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Türkiye, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Indonesia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates welcome the decision of the government of the United Kingdom to ban the import of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to introduce restrictions on services linked to such settlements, and express the hope that this decision will help mobilize the international community to take similar actions in line with international law and hold accountable settlement organizations and individuals engaged in illegal settlement activities," the FO said.

The statement noted that the ministers also welcomed the "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," it added.

The FO said that the ministers considered the announced intentions to be in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 (2016), and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024, including the obligation of all 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.

According to the joint statement, the ministers underscored that Gaza was an "integral part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory", further calling for the full and immediate implementation of President Donald Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, to ensure security and stability, address the humanitarian situation, facilitate reconstruction and recovery, and lay the foundations for lasting peace.

The ministers also underscored that the only viable path to achieving a "just, lasting, and comprehensive peace" was the implementation of the two-state solution, through the realisation of an "independent, sovereign, contiguous, and viable Palestinian State", based on June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions.

The FO also welcomed Britain's actions earlier in a separate statement.

It stated 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", adding that such illegal actions were undermining international efforts aimed at achieving a "two-state solution as well as peace and stability in the region".

It added that 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 FO further said that Pakistan hoped that these measures would send a "clear and unequivocal message of rejection of illegal actions" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The statement noted that Pakistan had been and would continue to stand by the people of Palestine in their "just struggle for self-determination" and continue to support all efforts aimed at the establishment of a "sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state" based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.