The Belgian federal government has officially approved a series of measures, which includes an import ban on products originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This decision was finalized during the government's last meeting prior to the summer recess, fulfilling an agreement established late last summer in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza and the rising number of civilian casualties.
While the government has confirmed the move, specific details regarding the implementation of the ban remain pending, according to reports from the Belga News Agency. The action coincides with the continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. On Friday, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported that Israeli authorities have advanced plans for 1,024 new settlement units across more than 1,069 dunams of Palestinian land since the start of July. The commission stated that these projects, which involve expanding the Beit Hagai, Mevo Dotan, and Asael settlements, are designed to solidify a "de facto annexation" of the territory. The United Nations maintains that all Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law and serve to undermine the viability of a two-state solution.
The announcement arrives amid ongoing hostilities. Israel has reportedly continued to violate the ceasefire agreement that has been in place since October 10, 2025. Data from Gaza's Health Ministry indicates that Israeli ceasefire violations have resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 Palestinians, with more than 3,600 others sustaining injuries. Since the military campaign began in October 2023, the ministry reports that more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 173,000 wounded, with approximately 90 percent of the enclave's civilian infrastructure suffering widespread destruction.
