EU Ministers Back Ban on Trade With Israeli Settlements

EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on July 13, 2026, and largely favoured a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Kallas referred to an opinion from the European Commission’s legal service stating that such measures were possible without unanimity among the 27 EU members.

A confidential European Commission paper outlined three options under discussion: an import licensing system, prohibitive tariffs, or an outright ban on trade with the settlements.

President Trump announced the resumption of the U.S. blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and said the United States will charge ships for safe passage, claiming a 20 percent reimbursement for all cargo shipped. The number of tankers transiting the strait fell in the past 24 hours to the lowest level in two months, according to Kpler data, reaching the lowest level since May 25.

Brent crude traded just under $78 a barrel in midday trading. Gold prices dropped almost three percent to $4,005 per ounce at 15:00 GMT. Israel’s attacks on Lebanon since March 2 have killed at least 4,324 people and wounded 12,221, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon are due to meet in Italy for another round of talks next week. Yemen’s Saudi-backed government said it struck Houthi-controlled Sanaa international airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing and announced the closure of all airports until further notice.

UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg stated on July 13, 2026, that he was closely following developments related to Yemeni airspace and airports and was deeply concerned about the risk of wider escalation.