SAFA — Eleven European countries and Canada announced Tuesday that they intend to introduce or support restrictions on trade in goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, amid escalating settlement expansion and settler violence against Palestinians.

In a joint declaration, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom confirmed their intention to introduce national measures and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods originating from settlements considered illegal under international law. Some of the countries said they are actively considering such measures in accordance with their national procedures.

France, the UK and Canada went further, saying they would bring forward national measures to prohibit trade in goods originating from Israeli settlements.

The three countries also welcomed measures already taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium.

The announcement marks growing international pressure on Israel over its accelerating settlement expansion and settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

“The situation is rapidly deteriorating amid unprecedented levels of settler violence and settlement expansion, including the unacceptable decision to publish tenders for the E1 settlement project,” the governments said.

The controversial E1 project, east of occupied Jerusalem, has drawn widespread international condemnation because its development would further fragment the occupied West Bank and undermine the territorial viability of a future Palestinian state.

The 12 governments said they “firmly oppose actions tantamount to the annexation of Palestinian land and forcible displacement of the Palestinian population.”

They called on Israel to immediately halt settlement expansion and the transfer of civilian administrative powers that advance Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory.

The declaration also demanded accountability for settler violence and investigations into Israeli forces' invelvement.

The governments reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution, saying they would take action to protect the possibility of establishing a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.

The planned measures represent a shift by several Western governments towards concrete economic action against Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise rather than relying solely on diplomatic condemnation.

However, not all of the announced restrictions are yet in force. Their implementation and scope will depend on national procedures and, in some cases, further action at the European level.