UK announces sanctions on West Bank settlements prompting furious Israeli response

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, accusing the Israeli government of enabling "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that the sanctions are part of a "new approach" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling out injustice and taking action.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the move, accusing the UK of spreading an "outrageous lie" and imposing countermeasures, including closing the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem.

The sanctions ban settlement goods and target companies and individuals supporting settlement expansion. The move is in line with a 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion, which declares the Israeli occupation of the West Bank unlawful. Over the next six to nine months, the UK will introduce a comprehensive sanctions regime targeting illegal settlements and their expansion.

Israel's government responded by shutting down the UK's consulate in East Jerusalem and banning 11 UK MPs, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, from entering Israel. The UK also joined a joint statement with 11 other countries, including France, Canada, and Denmark, committing to the two-state solution and introducing national measures to support it.

The sanctions come amid a rise in violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers and plans by Israel to build over 1,200 new settlement homes in the strategically important E1 area.