UK Suspends Free Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Crisis and Settler Violence
In a major diplomatic shift, the United Kingdom has formally suspended free trade negotiations with Israel, citing Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and a surge in settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The announcement was made by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Parliament on Tuesday.
Trade Talks Frozen, Sanctions Expanded
Lammy confirmed that while the existing UK-Israel trade agreement remains intact, no further negotiations will take place under the current conditions. The decision comes amid escalating humanitarian concerns and widespread pressure from domestic and international actors.
Additionally, the UK has expanded sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settler outposts and individuals linked to violence against Palestinians. The Foreign Office summoned Israeli Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely for urgent talks regarding the situation.
“The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions,” Lammy told MPs. “Their consistent failure to act is putting Palestinian communities and the two-state solution in peril.”
The sanctions include measures against three individuals, two illegal outposts, and two organisations allegedly involved in attacks on Palestinians.
Humanitarian Blockade in Gaza Condemned
The UK government also issued a strong rebuke of Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has lasted more than 11 weeks. Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer called the blockade “cruel and indefensible,” demanding unhindered humanitarian access.
Gaza faces a deepening crisis, with hundreds of Palestinians reportedly killed in recent Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives. UN officials have described the worsening starvation as a “man-made famine.” Aid groups report that 14,000 infants remain at risk from hunger and disease.
Labour Government Faces Criticism Over Arms Exports
Despite condemning Israel’s actions, the Labour government faces backlash over its continued arms exports to Israel. Critics argue that the government’s tough stance rings hollow while it continues supplying weapons.
Read More: https://theneutral.pk/aid-trucks-enter-gaza-while-un-reports-no-supplies-delivered/
Labour MP Zarah Sultana accused the government of enabling collective punishment:
“The UK’s failure to act is not just a moral disgrace – it is a political choice.”
Former Labour leader and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn echoed calls for an end to all military cooperation with Israel, branding it a necessary step to end British complicity.
Although the UK suspended some arms licences in September, it continues participating in the F-35 fighter jet programme, citing international defence agreements. UK government data shows that £127.6 million ($171 million) worth of military equipment was approved for export to Israel between October and December 2024, even after the partial embargo.
Legal Challenge and EU Response
The UK now faces a legal challenge over its arms exports from the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), which argues the government is violating its own export laws. GLAN director Gearoid O Cuinn called the suspension of trade talks “symbolic,” stating:
“It’s not a future trade deal that is facilitating the killing and starving of children – it’s the ongoing supply of British weaponry.”
Meanwhile, the European Union has launched a formal review of its EU-Israel Association Agreement, led by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, to determine whether Israel is violating its human rights obligations under Article 2. Seventeen out of 27 EU member states reportedly support the review. However, proposed EU sanctions on violent Israeli settlers remain blocked by an unnamed member state.
Public Pressure Mounts
The UK government’s move follows growing public protests, including weekly demonstrations demanding a ceasefire and an end to UK-Israel military ties. Pro-Palestinian organisations such as the Palestinian Youth Movement and Workers for a Free Palestine have intensified calls for a full arms embargo.
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zumlot welcomed the UK’s decision but urged more robust action, including support for international legal proceedings against Israeli officials accused of war crimes.
Israel Responds
Israel has dismissed the UK’s decision, with its Foreign Ministry stating that trade negotiations were not actively ongoing and calling the UK sanctions “unjustified and regrettable.”
As diplomatic and legal pressure mounts, scrutiny of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continues to grow amid accusations of war crimes and international law violations.
