Finland backs sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements but 'unlikely' to impose ban

Finland said on Wednesday that it would not be able to impose national trade restrictions on illegal Israeli settlements but would support continued EU efforts, despite being part of a joint declaration by 12 countries to support such trade curbs.

In response to a question from Anadolu, the Foreign Ministry said Finland joined the statement because it aligns with the country's long-term foreign policy objectives, including support for the rules-based international order and international law, as well as support for the two-state solution and the Palestinian Authority.

But, it added: "Finland is unlikely to impose national sanctions or restrictions due to the fact that we lack national legal basis for it."

"Therefore, we support continued work in the EU on the issue of settlement products based on the options paper presented by the European Commission prior to the July Foreign Affairs Council on differentiation of market access of settlement products to the internal market of the EU. Finland would like to make progress on this issue," the ministry said.

France, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden pledged on Tuesday to impose national restrictions on trade in goods from illegal Israeli settlements or support European restrictions.

The joint declaration reaffirmed that the 12 countries are "seriously considering" adopting such restrictions or other measures in accordance with their national procedures.

“We firmly oppose any action resulting in the annexation of Palestinian land and the forced displacement of Palestinian populations,” the joint statement read.

Since taking office in late 2022, the current government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the establishment of 104 new settlements, while 160 agricultural settlement outposts have been established in the West Bank, according to Palestinian data.

In the first half of 2026, Israeli occupiers carried out 3,488 attacks in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian government’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.

The attacks killed 17 Palestinians and fully or partially displaced 26 Bedouin and pastoral communities, while 42 new settlement outposts were established, the commission said.

Around 750,000 Israeli occupiers live in 194 illegal settlements and 400 illegal outposts across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to Palestinian figures.

Israel has occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the occupied territories illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects.