The European Union has banned the import of poultry and eggs from Jewish squatter colonies in the occupied West Bank, including annexed East Jerusalem, the Gulf News website reported, citing the Israeli news website Walla.

An EU official in Tel Aviv confirmed the report and said the ruling was issued “in the spirit” of guidelines that came into force in January prohibiting dealings with firms and bodies based in Jewish squatter colonies.

The colonies are illegal under international law and their continued expansion in the face of EU and US criticism was a prime factor in the collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.