UK suspends trade talks with Israel
The UK sanctions include financial restrictions, travel bans, and director disqualifications targeting extremist settlers and entities accused of inciting violence against Palestinian communities.
The United Kingdom has suspended new free trade talks with Israel and announced sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
This decision comes in response to Israel’s military actions during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties, and the increase in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, often with military endorsement.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the suffering of children in Gaza as “utterly intolerable” and called for an immediate ceasefire.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that while the existing trade agreement remains valid, no new negotiations can proceed with an Israeli government implementing what he described as “egregious policies” in Gaza and the West Bank.
Lammy also highlighted the need for decisive action due to the persistent cycle of settler violence and announced sanctions against three individuals, two illegal settler outposts, and two organizations promoting violence against Palestinians.
The UK government also summoned the Israeli ambassador to express disapproval of Israel’s military escalation and the 11-week blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza, which it described as “cruel and indefensible.”
The British Foreign Office stressed the importance of Israel fulfilling its obligations under international humanitarian law by allowing full, safe, and rapid delivery of aid to Gaza.
These measures follow a joint condemnation by the UK, France, and Canada, warning Israel that further concrete actions would be taken if the military offensive and settlement expansions did not cease.
The UK sanctions include financial restrictions, travel bans, and director disqualifications targeting extremist settlers and entities accused of inciting violence against Palestinian communities.
Reacting to the development, Israel in a statement issued on Tuesday said that external pressure will not change its course after Britain paused free trade talks over the war in Gaza and levelled new sanctions on settlers in the occupied West Bank.
“If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy — that is its own prerogative,” Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said in a statement.
“External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”
