Türkiye welcomed steps taken by 12 countries, led by the UK, France, and Canada, to ban trade and business relations with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, the Turkish foreign ministry said.
The ministry said on Tuesday illegal settlements had evolved into a systematic policy of occupation threatening the very existence of the State of Palestine, adding that settler terrorism had reached the level of ethnic cleansing.
It stressed the need for necessary action against Israel's occupation activities to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and said Türkiye would continue its efforts to establish an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, with territorial integrity, based on 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Palestine also welcomed the announcement, calling it "an important step" towards accountability.
"This is an important practical step toward holding the settlement system accountable and demonstrating non-recognition of the unlawful situation created by the occupation," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Call for more concrete measures
The UN human rights office also hailed the plans, saying such measures contribute to efforts to end violence and occupation in the West Bank.
"The seriousness of the situation in the West Bank calls for urgent and concrete measures," spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told Anadolu in a written statement, adding that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk was reiterating his call on third states to take "meaningful steps toward ending the violence and occupation of the West Bank."
The office cited a July 2024 ruling by the International Court of Justice stating that states should prevent trade or investment relations that help maintain Israel's illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, and a September 2024 UN General Assembly resolution calling for an end to imports of settlement products.
"The High Commissioner calls on all States to undertake rigorous, comprehensive, transparent assessments of what action they could take to ensure they are not helping to entrench Israel's unlawful presence in the territory," Laurence said.
Addressing the Human Rights Council on Monday, Turk said companies "need to end business practices that support illegal settlements."
Eleven European countries — France, the UK, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden — plus Canada, announced on Tuesday their intention to impose national restrictions on settlement trade and/or support European restrictions.
The countries said the situation in the occupied West Bank was "rapidly deteriorating," citing unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, and firmly opposed "any action resulting in the annexation of Palestinian land and the forced displacement of Palestinian populations."
They further urged Israel to immediately halt the expansion of illegal settlements and civilian administrative powers, while ensuring accountability for settlers responsible for violence.
‘Much-needed beginning’
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese welcomed the UK's new stance of imposing a trade ban on goods from illegal settlements, describing it as a "much-needed beginning."
"I welcome the stance taken by the UK government on Israel's occupation and its illegality," Albanese wrote on X. "A much-needed beginning, even if it does not yet reverse all policies undermining Palestinian self-determination. May the UK government and people hold firm. The pressure will be fierce."
Her remarks came after British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the UK would ban imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements, citing the "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians."
Addressing lawmakers in the House of Commons, Miliband said the announcement marked the "beginning of a new approach" towards Israel, adding that legislation would be in place within six to nine months alongside more immediate measures.
The steps, he said, were intended to send a "clear message" that Britain would not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution — though the sanctions regime would target settlements, not Israel itself.
‘Victory for the Palestine solidarity movement’
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot also welcomed the plans, calling the move an "important step."
"The decision taken today by several countries including the UK, France and Canada, to join the group of countries who, like Belgium, have taken action against the settlement policy of Israel is an important step," Prevot wrote on X, urging Israel to end its settlement expansion.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomed Canada's announcement, calling it a major step forward while urging Ottawa to go further by extending the policy beyond imported goods to trade in services, investment, and property.
"This is a victory for the Palestine solidarity movement and everyone who wants Canadian trade policy to uphold human rights and international law," said CJPME President Yara Shoufani, adding that the announcement "marks the first time that Israel will face material, economic consequences for its blatant violations of international law."
Approximately 750,000 illegal Israeli settlers reside in 516 illegal settlements and outposts in the occupied territory, carrying out near-daily efforts to displace Palestinians from their land.
