Belgium and Netherlands ban products from illegal Israeli settlements
Two European countries, Belgium and the Netherlands, have banned products made in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank from entering their markets.
Other European countries, including Ireland, Slovenia and Spain, took similar steps recently. Belgium and the Netherlands are the latest to follow with this strict decision.
The countries based their decision on international law and policy. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal in July 2024. Under international law, building Israeli settlements and military outposts on occupied land is completely unlawful.
More than a dozen countries worldwide have already imposed a full ban on importing goods from illegal Israeli settlements. These bans are part of a wider effort to build diplomatic and economic pressure against the occupation.
Experts believe this new European move will add further economic pressure on Israel on the international stage.
