Kuwait has expressed support for recent decisions by the Netherlands and Belgium to prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized these bans as significant measures upholding international law and United Nations resolutions.
In a statement, the ministry cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 from 2016, which calls on Israel to halt settlement activities, and referenced the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion issued on July 19, 2024, that ruled the settlements illegal under international law. Kuwait praised the actions of the Dutch and Belgian governments, stating they reflect adherence to the principles of international law.
The statement also urged the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to assume its responsibilities in addressing ongoing settlement policies, which Kuwait said continue to obstruct efforts toward achieving a just and lasting peace in the region. Reaffirming Kuwait’s longstanding support for Palestinian rights, the ministry reiterated backing for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In related developments, foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar issued a joint condemnation of what they described as escalating actions by Israeli authorities at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif compound in East Jerusalem. The ministers criticized large-scale incursions by Israeli settlers, which they said were led by extremist political figures and conducted under the protection of Israeli security forces.
The statement highlighted specific provocations, including the raising of the Israeli flag within the mosque compound and the erection of tents by Israeli police. The ministers labeled these acts as violations of international law, relevant UN resolutions, and the established historical and legal status quo governing the holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem.
They also condemned what they characterized as illegal incitement and calls for further incursions and violence by extremist Israeli ministers and groups. The ministers warned that such actions exacerbate hatred, fuel extremism, increase regional tensions, and undermine prospects for a negotiated peace based on the two-state solution.
