UK condemns ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians, backs Israel probe

The United Kingdom has condemned the "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians in Israeli settlements within the occupied West Bank, according to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband. The British government believes that settler terrorists are responsible for this alleged ethnic cleansing. Miliband expressed deep concern over the suffering in Gaza, describing the death and devastation as a "stain on the conscience of the world."

Over 70,000 people have been killed since October 2023, with the majority of the population, nearly two million people, living in a small portion of the territory. The destruction of homes, hospitals, and the blockage of humanitarian aid have contributed to an "avoidable humanitarian catastrophe," according to Miliband. Over 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the 2025 ceasefire, with children among them waiting for medical treatment and people forced to live near sewage and without shelter.

Miliband cited international humanitarian law, which protects civilians and access to food and medical supplies during war. He emphasized that evaluations by organizations, including the UN Commission of Inquiry, have revealed increasing evidence of war crimes committed by Israel. Miliband stressed that the UK supports robust, fair, and full judicial processes before determining the issue of genocide, which the British government has always backed.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, called for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They warned that systematic settlement expansion in the West Bank, including Israel's construction in the E1 settlement, and the rising settler violence pose an urgent threat.

The three leaders emphasized that settlements are illegal under international law, and it is time to take further action to protect the two-state solution, their interests, and uphold their values. As a result, the UK, France, and Canada plan to ban the importation of goods from West Bank settlements, targeting the communities, their facilitators, and profiteers.