Belgium bans imports of goods from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories

The Belgian federal government approved a ban on importing products that originate from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The measure was adopted during the cabinet’s final meeting before the summer recess on 18 July 2026 and fulfills a commitment made after the large‑scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. The ban applies to goods produced in settlements in the West Bank and the occupied Golan Heights and follows similar unilateral actions by Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland.

Belgium justified the decision by invoking international law, including United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 and the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, which called for states to refrain from supporting the settlements. The government called on other EU members to take comparable steps, arguing that “the decision reflects Belgium’s commitment to international law.”

Implementation details were not disclosed, and the ban will remain in force nationally until a coordinated EU policy is adopted. The move was welcomed by Egypt, the Palestinian foreign ministry and human‑rights groups, while Israeli officials condemned it as crossing a “red line.”