In a significant diplomatic move, the United Kingdom has suspended free trade negotiations with Israel and summoned its ambassador in response to the intensifying military offensive in Gaza. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy both condemned Israel’s actions, describing them as deeply alarming and incompatible with British values.
The decision follows Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said aims to bring the entire territory under Israeli control. Since March, Israel has blocked the entry of food, fuel, and medical supplies into Gaza, prompting widespread warnings from international experts of an impending famine.
Speaking before Parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Starmer expressed grave concern over the humanitarian toll and called for an immediate ceasefire.
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“We’re horrified by the escalation from Israel,” he stated. “A ceasefire remains the only viable path to freeing the hostages and ending the suffering. We also reaffirm our opposition to illegal settlements in the West Bank and demand urgent humanitarian access into Gaza.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed the sentiment, condemning what he referred to as “extremism” within segments of Israel’s current government. He emphasized that the ongoing military offensive does not serve the goal of securing the release of hostages and urged an immediate end to the aid blockade.
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“We cannot stand by in the face of this new deterioration. It is incompatible with the principles that underpin our bilateral relationship,” Lammy told MPs. “It’s an affront to the values of the British people. That is why we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement.”
Alongside halting trade talks, the UK announced further sanctions targeting individuals and groups in the occupied West Bank associated with violence against Palestinians. This follows a previous wave of sanctions in 2024 aimed at settler organizations accused of sponsoring attacks on Palestinian communities.
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The UK’s latest measures came just a day after a joint statement with France and Canada, in which the three nations condemned Israel’s expanded operations in Gaza and called for unrestricted humanitarian access. The joint declaration also warned that further “concrete actions” would be taken if Israel did not halt its offensive.
As international pressure mounts, the UK’s decision marks a major policy shift and signals a growing rift between Western allies and the Netanyahu government. With diplomatic channels tightening and humanitarian conditions worsening, the call for de-escalation has become increasingly urgent on the global stage.
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