Beyza Binnur Donmez
10 September 2026•Update: 10 September 2026
Switzerland said Thursday it shares concerns over the situation in Gaza and the West Bank following plans by 12 countries to introduce trade restrictions targeting illegal Israeli settlements, but stressed that Swiss law does not allow it to impose such sanctions independently.
“Switzerland has taken note of the declarations of intent from certain countries and is closely monitoring the situation,” Francoise Tschanz, spokesperson for Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), told Anadolu in a written statement.
“The Federal Council shares the concerns regarding the situation in Gaza and the West Bank,” Tschanz said.
Asked whether Switzerland was considering similar national restrictions, Tschanz pointed to the country’s Embargo Act.
Under the law, Switzerland can implement sanctions adopted by the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), or its main trading partners, which “in practice” means the European Union, she said.
“The law does not allow for the adoption of measures independently,” Tschanz added.
In its January 2025 analysis of the ICJ’s July 2024 advisory opinion on Israel’s policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said Switzerland does not support economic activities related to illegal Israeli settlements and advises individuals and companies against supporting settlement activities.
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.
