Twelve countries including Britain and France announced in a joint statement that they would prohibit trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The governments cited their existing position that the settlements are unlawful under international law. The measure covers both imports and exports of settlement goods.

How it differs from earlier steps

The European Union had required settlement goods to be labelled by origin, an approach that gave consumers information without blocking transactions.

This measure goes beyond labelling to prohibit trade outright. Because the volumes involved are small, analysts largely read it as a political signal rather than an economic instrument.

Responses

Israel's government has consistently opposed such measures, arguing that the settlements should be addressed in final-status negotiations.

The Palestinian Authority welcomed the announcement and called for more states to join. International rights groups said effective implementation procedures would be needed.

Timing and detailed product criteria are to be set by each country. The practical challenge is expected to lie in verifying settlement origin at customs.