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Parliamentary Briefing: The Practicalities of a Settlement Trade Ban (July 2026)

Israeli soldiers stand guard as Israeli workers remove a tent that was pitched near the Israeli settlement of Susya on March 28, 2018 after its resident Palestinian family was warned to evacuate.

Overview

In June 2026, the UK Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions on individual Israeli settlers and settler networks, and updated guidance for companies doing business with settlements.

25 MPs challenged the Government to take stronger action, including by calling for a ban on trade with Israeli settlements. In response, the Foreign Secretary said that "other countries have also looked at these issues and what more can be done, and have found that some of the practicalities are complex".

This briefing specifically addresses this claim and explains why a ban on trade with Israeli settlements is in fact possible, noting that:

  • Spain has implemented a ban
  • The Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium have committed to implementing a ban
  • Trade agreements with Israel and the Palestinian Authority make it easy to differentiate Israeli and Palestinian goods
  • Mechanisms already exist to ban trade with occupied territories, including in Russian-occupied Crimea and other illegally occupied parts of Ukraine

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Parliamentary briefing

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