Egypt hails Belgian ban on imports from Israeli settlements in Palestine, urges EU to follow suit

CAIRO – 19 July 2026: Egypt welcomed Belgium's decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, and called on the European Union and the wider international community to follow suit.

In a statement on Sunday, the Egyptian foreign ministry described the Belgian cabinet's decision as "important" and urged all EU member states and the international community to introduce legal measures banning products from Israeli settlements.

Egypt said Belgium’s move reflects “support for the principles of justice and [represents] a practical and responsible application of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2334.”

The resolution, Cairo emphasized, affirms that Israeli settlements have no legal validity and calls for an immediate halt to settlement activity to preserve the prospects for peace and the two-state solution.

The Belgian federal government approved the import ban as part of an agreement reached last summer in response to the extensive bombing campaign and mounting death toll in Gaza, according to Belgian media.

Belgium is among a growing number of European countries moving ahead with national measures rather than waiting for EU-wide action.

Spain imposed a comprehensive trade and import ban last year on products originating from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights.

The Netherlands adopted a similar measure earlier this year.

A ban on imports from Israeli settlers in Palestine remains under discussion within the European Union, Israel's largest trading partner, which accounted for around 32 percent of Israel's global trade in goods in 2024.

The momentum is driven by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where a UN inquiry found that Israel is committing genocide, and escalating state-backed settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Between 7 October 2023 and 13 July 2026, at least 1,111 Palestinians, including 243 children, were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

However, progress toward an EU-wide ban has been slow, drawing criticism from member states seeking stronger action.

'Bone to Gnaw on'

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has called for "concrete proposals" from the European Commission, saying the options presented so far appeared to be "more a bone to gnaw on than a genuine desire to move forward."

Spain has also accused the bloc of delaying action to ban trade with Israeli settlements.

In its statement, the foreign ministry reiterated Egypt’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.

Cairo stressed that lasting peace and security in the Middle East can only be achieved by ending the Israeli occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to exercise their legitimate right to self-determination, foremost through the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.