Belgium bans Israeli settlement imports

Belgium's federal government approved a ban on imports of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, fulfilling a commitment made in response to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The decision was taken at the final cabinet meeting before the summer recess. Belgium joins Spain, the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, and Slovenia in enacting national restrictions, while EU-wide action remains stalled due to disagreements among member states. The International — European Commission circulated options including an import ban, licensing, or tariffs, but no consensus was reached. A Global Echo Litigation Center investigation found that about one in six Israeli agricultural shipments to Europe contained settlement goods, often mislabeled. Hamas welcomed the ban, while former European leaders called for a bloc-wide measure.