The United Kingdom has suspended free trade negotiations with Israel and imposed new sanctions on West Bank settlers in response to Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza and its support for illegal settlement expansion, in a move that marks the most forceful rebuke yet from London.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the measures in Parliament on Tuesday, stating that the British government could not continue negotiations on upgrading its trade agreement with an Israeli administration pursuing what he described as “monstrous” and “extremist” policies.
The new sanctions target three individuals, two illegal settler outposts, and two organizations accused of supporting violence against Palestinians. The Foreign Office said the decision followed an 11-week blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza by Israeli forces, which has prompted warnings of famine and triggered condemnation from international allies.
As part of the diplomatic escalation, Israeli Ambassador to the U.K. Tzipi Hotovely was formally summoned to the Foreign Office, where Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer delivered a stern rebuke, characterizing the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid as an act of profound cruelty and lacking any moral or legal justification.
The measures come amid mounting global criticism of Israel’s conduct during its campaign in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead and devastated much of the enclave’s infrastructure. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the concern in an earlier statement, describing the suffering of children in Gaza as “utterly intolerable” and repeating his call for an immediate ceasefire.
“I want to state clearly today that we are deeply alarmed by Israel’s escalation,” Starmer said.
The U.K.’s action was welcomed by many lawmakers across the political spectrum. However, it also drew criticism from some MPs who demanded stronger action, including broader economic sanctions on Israel and formal recognition of Palestinian statehood. A handful of MPs even urged Lammy to label Israel’s actions as genocide—an accusation he declined to make.
“Standing against the widening of a war that has claimed the lives of thousands of children is not an endorsement of Hamas,” Lammy said, responding to claims that the government’s position could be seen as aligning with the militant group.
Meanwhile, the European Union signaled it may follow the U.K.’s lead. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc is currently reassessing its trade agreement with Israel. “A huge majority” of EU member states, she said, are “very keen on sending this message that the suffering of these people is untenable.” She did not specify a timeline for the review.
In Israel, the response was swift and critical. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein described the British sanctions as “unjustified and regrettable,” and claimed that the trade talks were not progressing in any case.The diplomatic rift between London and Jerusalem comes amid growing calls within the international community to hold Israel accountable for what many human rights organizations describe as disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force in Gaza, as well as the continued expansion of settlements deemed illegal under international law.
The sanctions also signal a shift in tone for Starmer’s government, which had previously taken a more cautious approach to criticizing Israel. Analysts say the move may reflect both growing public outrage in the U.K. over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and force from England’s partners to yield real measures.
With the EU now considering similar steps, the international pressure on Israel appears to be intensifying. Whether these measures will impact Israel’s military or political strategy remains to be seen, but they mark a significant escalation in diplomatic consequences for its actions.
