Reino Unido will prohibit the import of products originating from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced before the House of Commons on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Miliband accused the Israeli government of turning a blind eye to what he described as ethnic cleansing carried out by settlers in the territory.
UK Announces Ban on West Bank Settlement Goods
According to BBC, Miliband stated that the British government recognizes that ethnic cleansing is occurring in the West Bank at the hands of extremist settlers, adding that some Israeli officials have made statements and taken actions aimed at supporting the forced displacement of Palestinians. The foreign secretary warned that companies and individuals contributing to the expansion of settlements through construction, financing, or services will face the full weight of UK sanctions, and announced that advertising for settlements considered illegal will also be banned in British territory.
Canada and eleven European nations—including France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden—confirmed their intention to sanction trade with Israeli settlements or back European measures amid a rapid degradation of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, as reported by El Tiempo. International law considers all Israeli settlements in the West Bank, an area occupied since 1967, to be illegal.
Israel Retaliates with Diplomatic and Consular Measures
The Israeli government responded swiftly to the trade restrictions announced by London and its international partners. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the British statements as false and announced a series of counter-measures directed at the United Kingdom, according to DW.
Saar ordered the closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem, which holds a special regime dating back to before the creation of the State of Israel. Additionally, Israel prohibited entry to the country for twelve British citizens, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and eleven other members of the UK Parliament. Saar also stated that British representatives would be withdrawn from the Civil-Military Coordination Center for Gaza, and announced a ban preventing British authorities from training forces of the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank.
Saar criticized the British government’s actions as a grave interference in Israel’s electoral process ahead of legislative elections scheduled for October, and accused London of promoting biased anti-Israeli rhetoric that has contributed to an unprecedented rise in antisemitic attacks.
Regional Repercussions and International Reactions
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the British government’s decision as a grave miscalculation. Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday that Washington will not follow the path taken by the UK, noting that the US does not wish to see heightened regional conflict or tension, which could impact capabilities regarding Gaza, the 20-point plan, and the Peace Board.
In a joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, British executive head Andy Burnham, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that Israeli settlements in the West Bank undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also stated on the social media platform X that France will end trade with Israeli colonies in Palestine because the West Bank is on the brink of an explosion.
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