The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports, the Prime Minister's Office announced.

It instructed the Ministries of Economy and Foreign Affairs to consider banning the export of goods from Slovenia intended for these settlements.

The Israeli government's actions in the occupied territories, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, the destruction of their homes, and the systematic restriction of access to basic life resources, constitute serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law, Golob's office warns.

"These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order. As a responsible member of the international community, Slovenia cannot and must not be part of a chain that enables or overlooks such practices. The measures taken represent a clear reaction to the policy of the Israeli government, which, with its actions, undermines the possibilities for lasting peace and a two-state solution," the press statement reads.

The Government Communications Office (Ukom) explained that, in accordance with last year's decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), countries are obliged to distinguish between the territory of the State of Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, which includes obligations in the field of trade.

At Golob's initiative, the government also approved a decision on the fourth aid package for the Palestinian civilian population. Aid in the form of food and blankets, the estimated value of which, including transportation, amounts to up to 879,490 euros, will again be delivered via Jordan.

Material assistance will be provided from material supplies available to the Ministry of Defense and the army, and will include 1,000 blankets and up to 7,680 dry daily rations.

In 2024, Slovenia already provided humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza in the form of food and other materials, which, together with transportation, amounted to 2,144,668 euros, Ukom also states.

The import ban means continued pressure from Slovenia on Israel due to the destruction of Gaza and the starvation of the population there.

Last week, Slovenia became the first European country to ban the import, export and transit of weapons to and from Israel, with certain exceptions. It had previously declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrič persona non grata. It had already recognized Palestine in June last year.

In January, the National Assembly's Foreign Policy Committee called on the relevant ministries to consider the possibility of banning Slovenia's trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon and State Secretary at the Ministry of Economy Dejan Židan warned at the time that there was little scope for unilateral action.

The numbers of imports from the occupied territories are extremely small - in 2022 and 2024 there were none at all until the end of October, and in 2023 it amounted to just under 2,000 euros. There were some exports to the occupied territories, but they were medical devices and medicines, Židan explained in January.

The settlements, which are part of Israel's official policy, are illegal under international law, which prohibits the deliberate settlement of civilians in occupied territories. The West Bank, occupied since 1967, is home to about 700,000 Israeli settlers, alongside about three million Palestinians.