By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Türkiye, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have welcomed the United Kingdom's decision to ban imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.

In a joint statement issued in Islamabad, the eight countries also welcomed Britain's move to impose restrictions on services linked to the settlements, saying the measures could encourage other countries to take similar steps under international law.

The ministers urged the international community to adopt concrete measures against organizations and individuals involved in illegal Israeli settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

They also welcomed a 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 UK.

The countries said the European and national initiatives to restrict trade in settlement goods were consistent with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted in 2016.

The ministers also cited the International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion, which they said establishes obligations on states not to recognize as legal the situation resulting from Israel's unlawful occupation or provide assistance in maintaining it.

They called on Israel to reverse measures related to settlement activity and other actions they said were aimed at changing the geographic and demographic character of the occupied Palestinian territory.

The eight foreign ministers stressed that Gaza is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory and called for the full and immediate implementation of US President Donald Trump's comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict.

They said implementation should help establish security and stability, address the humanitarian crisis, support reconstruction and recovery, and create conditions for lasting peace.

The ministers reiterated their support for a two-state solution, describing it as the only viable path toward a just and comprehensive peace.

Under their proposed framework, an independent, sovereign, contiguous and viable Palestinian state should be established along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

The joint statement reflects growing diplomatic pressure for international measures against Israeli settlement activity and renewed calls for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.