UK Cranks Up Pressure on Israel Over Gaza Offensive

The United Kingdom has intensified its response to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, suspending free trade talks, summoning Israel’s ambassador, and slapping sanctions on West Bank settlers. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, addressing Parliament, branded Israel’s actions “morally unjustifiable” and condemned its 11-week blockade of food, fuel, and medicine, which has driven Gaza to the brink of famine. The measures come amid growing domestic and international outcry over the humanitarian crisis.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labeled the situation “intolerable,” urging Israel to allow aid into Gaza at scale. On Tuesday, Israel permitted 93 aid trucks carrying essentials like flour and medical supplies to enter via the Kerem Shalom crossing, but the UN reported no distribution has occurred due to stringent Israeli protocols. UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher warned of catastrophic consequences, citing 14,100 cases of severe child malnutrition projected over the next year. The Hamas-run health ministry reported 57 children have died from malnutrition in the past 11 weeks.

Lammy singled out Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statements about “cleansing Gaza,” “destroying what’s left,” and relocating Palestinians to third countries, calling them “extremist” and “repellent.” He announced sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, targeting three individuals—such as settler leader Daniella Weiss—and four entities linked to over 1,800 attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank since January 2024. Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer summoned Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely, emphasizing the UK’s opposition to Israel’s expanded operations and settler violence.

In Parliament, debates were heated. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel cautioned that the UK’s moves could embolden Hamas, a designated terrorist group, while Labour MPs like Abtisam Mohamed accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and demanded an arms embargo. Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan called Israel’s “weaponisation of food” “morally reprehensible.” Lammy defended the UK’s partial arms sale suspension, ensuring no complicity in breaches of international humanitarian law, and pledged further action if needed. On recognizing Palestine, he noted ongoing talks with France and Saudi Arabia but favored using recognition as leverage for a broader peace deal.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein dismissed the UK’s actions as “unjustified,” arguing they won’t deter Israel’s defense against “enemies seeking its destruction.” He claimed trade talks were already stalled, suggesting the UK’s decision prioritizes “anti-Israel obsession” over economic interests. The EU, Israel’s largest trading partner, is also reviewing its trade agreement, signaling mounting global pressure.

The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages, has led to 53,475 deaths in Gaza, including 3,340 since the latest offensive, per the Hamas-run health ministry. A joint UK-France-Canada statement on Monday demanded Israel halt operations and allow aid, reflecting frustration echoed by the US, where President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have sidestepped Israel on recent Middle East trips.