Britain to Suspend Trade Deal Negotiations with Israel

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The British government says it is suspending free trade negotiations with Israel and has levelled new sanctions targeting West Bank settlements as it criticises Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Tuesday’s actions came a day after the UK, France, and Canada condemned Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the occupied West Bank.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK’s existing trade agreement is in effect, but the government can’t continue discussions with an Israeli government pursuing what he called egregious policies in the West Bank and Gaza. Lammy said the persistent cycle of violence by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank demanded action.

The announcement came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ramped up his criticism of Israel on Tuesday, saying the level of suffering by children in Gaza was “utterly intolerable” and repeated his call for a ceasefire. International pressure has been building on Israel following a nearly three-month blockade of supplies into Gaza that led to famine warnings. The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has also voiced concerns over the growing hunger crisis.

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While Israel allowed trucks with baby food and desperately needed supplies to begin rolling into Gaza on Monday, U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described the volume of aid, a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed.”