The British government has officially suspended free trade agreement negotiations with Israel and imposed sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, in response to escalating violence in Gaza and the occupied territories.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron confirmed the measures in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, citing deepening humanitarian concerns and the Israeli government’s failure to rein in settler violence against Palestinians.
“Britain cannot ignore the growing brutality in the West Bank nor the disproportionate military campaign in Gaza,” Cameron said. “We are pausing trade talks and targeting those fueling unrest with direct sanctions.”
The move includes visa bans and asset freezes against several Israeli settlers accused of orchestrating or participating in attacks on Palestinian communities, marking the UK’s most significant diplomatic shift in the region in recent years.
Talks for a modernized UK-Israel trade deal were previously ongoing, aimed at expanding post-Brexit economic ties. That process is now frozen indefinitely.
The announcement has sparked fierce debate in Westminster, with some lawmakers supporting the pause, while others argue it risks weakening UK-Israel relations at a time of rising global instability.
Human rights groups have welcomed the sanctions, calling them a “long-overdue response” to what they describe as systemic settler violence and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
The Israeli embassy in London has yet to issue a formal response.
This development comes as the death toll in Gaza climbs, with no clear resolution in sight. The UK’s stance may influence other European allies to consider similar actions as pressure mounts on Israel to scale back its operations.
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