UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel, Imposes Sanctions on West Bank Settlers
The UK has suspended talks on a trade deal with Israel, summoned the country’s ambassador, and imposed fresh sanctions on West Bank settlers, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the military escalation in Gaza as "morally unjustifiable".
According to a report by the BBC, the move follows warnings of starvation in Gaza after Israel launched a new military operation over the weekend. Global experts have warned of a looming famine because the Israeli government has blockaded supplies of food, fuel, and medicine to Gaza for the last 11 weeks.
In a statement to Parliament, Lammy said that the Israeli government had set out on a "morally unjustifiable" and "utterly counterproductive" path that would not bring hostages safely home. He accused the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu of "isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world", as he announced negotiations on a free trade deal had been suspended.
The Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, told Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely that the UK would not "stand by" as Israel increased military operations in Gaza. "Today I summoned Israel’s ambassador to the FCDO," Falconer said in a post on X. "I made clear the UK’s opposition to expanded military operations in Gaza and rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank." The UK will not stand by as this happens, he added.
Condemning settler violence, Lammy also set out sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, against three individuals and four companies who were "carrying out heinous abuses of human rights". The sanctions were imposed in response to the growing violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The BBC reports that there were fiery exchanges in Parliament with Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, who suggested that the actions would be welcomed by Hamas. However, Lammy insisted that the UK government was taking a strong stance against extremism and terrorism. "We must call this what it is," he told MPs. "It is extremism, it is dangerous, it is repellent, it is monstrous, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms."
The situation in Gaza has been described as "intolerable" by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who said that "humanitarian aid needs to get in at pace". The UN has confirmed that, although permission had now been given to send about 100 aid trucks into Gaza, no aid had yet been distributed.
The Israeli government has already been warned it must end its "egregious" military expansion and "immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza" in a joint statement from the leaders of the UK, Canada, and France. Israel said it had allowed five lorries carrying humanitarian aid into the territory, but the UN’s humanitarian chief said this was a "drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed".
In response to the UK’s announcement, Israeli foreign spokesman Oren Marmorstein responded defiantly, saying that external pressure would "not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence". Marmorstein also suggested that the UK government had not been advancing negotiations on a trade deal "at all" before the announcement in the Commons.
The EU, Israel’s biggest trading partner, is to review its trade agreement with the country in light of its actions in Gaza. The review is expected to examine whether Israel’s actions in Gaza are in line with its obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The Labour Party has called for further action, including an arms embargo and sanctions on Israeli officials. Labour MP for Tooting, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, said that the "weaponisation of food" was "morally reprehensible" and called for an arms embargo to be imposed, as well as sanctions on Israeli officials.
In a statement, Lammy gave an "absolute commitment" that the UK government would take further action "if needed over the coming days and weeks". He also responded to calls to officially recognise the state of Palestine by confirming he was "in close dialogue" with both France and Saudi Arabia about recognition.
The UK’s decision to suspend trade talks with Israel and impose sanctions on West Bank settlers has been seen as a significant escalation of pressure on the Israeli government to end its military operations in Gaza. The situation remains volatile, with concerns of a looming famine and growing violence in the region.
According to the BBC, diplomats believe that recognition of Palestine could be used as a spur to further action, perhaps as part of a wider peace settlement, rather than a symbolic expression of anger against Israel and support for Palestinians.
The UK’s actions have been welcomed by some, but others have called for further action. As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen what further steps the UK government will take to address the crisis.
The Foreign Secretary said Israel had suffered "a heinous attack" on 7 October 2023 and the UK had always backed the country’s right to defend itself. However, he also stated that the current situation was "intolerable" and that "humanitarian aid needs to get in at pace".
The article has been informed by reporting from the BBC.
