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UK halts trade talks with Israel, condemns Gaza offensive as "morally unjustifiable"
By isabelle // 2025-05-20
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  • The UK has suspended free trade talks with Israel and imposed sanctions on extremist West Bank settlers, marking its strongest response yet to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
  • Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Israel’s actions as "morally unjustifiable" and accused Netanyahu’s government of plunging Gaza into unprecedented suffering.
  • Lammy denounced Israeli officials' calls to "cleanse" Gaza as "monstrous" and summoned Israel’s ambassador, demanding an end to the offensive that has blocked aid and killed hundreds.
  • New sanctions target violent settlers, but Israel dismissed the measures, with one settler mocking them by planning a world tour excluding Britain.
  • Lammy warned Israel is becoming globally isolated, while Netanyahu remains defiant, framing the conflict as a civilizational battle despite warnings of famine and international backlash.
The United Kingdom has taken its strongest stance yet against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, suspending free trade negotiations and imposing sanctions on extremist West Bank settlers. Foreign Secretary David Lammy delivered a scathing rebuke of Israel’s government, calling its actions "morally unjustifiable," "wholly disproportionate," and an "affront to the values of the British people." The move signals a dramatic deterioration in UK-Israeli relations, with Lammy accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of plunging Gaza into a "dark new phase" of suffering.

"Repellent" rhetoric and sanctions

Lammy condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s calls to "cleanse" Gaza, destroy remaining Palestinian communities, and forcibly relocate residents as "extremism... dangerous, repellent, [and] monstrous." The UK summoned Israel’s ambassador, Tzipi Hotovely, to demand an immediate halt to the offensive, which has killed over 500 Gazans in just eight days while blocking nearly all aid. New sanctions target three violent settlers and four entities linked to West Bank outposts, including Daniella Weiss, a prominent figure in the Nachala settlement movement. Weiss dismissed the sanctions as "childish," boasting, "My husband ordered tickets already for an around-the-world tour, without including Britain." Lammy warned that Israel’s policies are isolating it globally: "They are isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world. Undermining the interests of the Israeli people. And damaging the image of the state of Israel in the eyes of the world. I find this deeply painful, as a lifelong friend of Israel and a believer in the values expressed in its declaration of independence."

Israel defiant as famine looms

Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the UK’s actions as an "anti-Israel obsession," declaring, "External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence." Despite UN warnings of imminent famine, Israel has allowed only a trickle of aid; fewer than 10 trucks entered Gaza on Monday, compared to the 500 daily needed. Lammy accused Netanyahu of deliberately engineering starvation: "They are going to take control of the strip and will allow just enough to prevent hunger... This is abominable." Netanyahu, meanwhile, framed the minimal aid concessions as a strategic move to placate allies, admitting that even "U.S. senators I know personally" warned him against "images of mass starvation." Retired Israeli general Yair Golan, a political rival, warned that Israel risks becoming a "pariah state" by waging war on civilians.

Global backlash grows

The UK’s actions align with mounting international pressure. France and Canada joined Britain in threatening further measures unless Israel lifts aid restrictions. The EU, Israel’s largest trading partner, has also faced calls to reassess ties. Yet Netanyahu remains defiant, vowing to "take control of the entire Gaza Strip" and framing the conflict as a civilizational battle against "barbarism." The UK’s suspension of trade talks marks a rare moment of accountability for Israel’s conduct, but critics argue symbolic gestures are insufficient. With over 53,000 Palestinians dead and millions starving, the world must decide whether to tolerate a regime that openly flouts international law or impose real consequences. As Lammy declared, "This is not the way to bring the hostages safely home." The question now is whether Netanyahu’s government will heed the warnings or double down on a path that even its allies can no longer defend. Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com Reuters.com CNN.com
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