UK government urged to expand Israel sanctions to cover Gaza aid blockade

British MPs have urged the government to swiftly expand its sanctions regime targeting Israel to include those obstructing aid deliveries to Gaza. In a letter to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, 75 MPs and peers argued that more stringent measures are needed to combat the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by delays in aid deliveries.

The UK introduced sanctions in September targeting entities involved in illegal settlement activities in the West Bank and violent settlers, with designations anticipated to take six months to become effective. However, MPs emphasized the urgency of extending these sanctions to entities hindering aid, including extremist groups, before winter sets in.

They urged the government to prioritize designating such entities within weeks rather than months, citing the EU's sanctions against similar groups as a model. Additionally, the letter called for the UK to provide additional aid funds for essential supplies like food, water, and shelters in Gaza before winter, alongside efforts to mobilize other donors.

The government's new sanctions, while praised by some within the ruling Labour party for their swift implementation, have sparked internal division over potential impacts on security and intelligence-sharing agreements with Israel and the adequacy of the measures in preventing settlement expansion in the West Bank.