The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has announced that it is suspending new free trade negotiations with Israel and is introducing new sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, in response to Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.
This decision comes a day after the UK, France, and Canada jointly condemned the way Israel is conducting the war in Gaza, as well as its activities in the occupied West Bank. The joint statement by the three countries has been described as one of the harshest criticisms of Israeli policy by close allies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday further intensified the criticism, saying in the UK Parliament that the “level of suffering of children in Gaza is completely intolerable” and reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire.
“Today I want to say clearly that we are appalled by the escalation of violence by Israel,” stated Starmer yesterday.
This is the latest in a series of diplomatic pressures on the Israeli authorities to halt the military offensive that has caused significant civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
