UK to bring forward new powers to respond to moral emergency in Palestine, and target illegal settlement activity in the West Bank to protect the viability of a
The UK announced new measures targeting illegal West Bank settlements and trade linked to them, alongside sanctions on Iran, to uphold the two-state solution and address rising settler violence.
The UK government has announced plans to introduce new powers aimed at addressing the deteriorating situation in Palestine, including a sharp rise in settler violence and accelerating settlement expansion in the West Bank. These measures are intended to protect the viability of a two-state solution, which the government describes as the cornerstone of its policy on Israel and Palestine. The announcement follows a joint initiative with France and Canada to restrict trade with settlements, aligning with similar steps taken by Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed in Parliament that the UK has independently deemed Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory ‘unlawful,’ in line with an International Court of Justice advisory ruling. The UK’s actions include targeting illegal settlement expansion, which the UN reports has seen 16 Palestinians killed by settlers and over 1,400 incidents of settler-related violence in the past year. Despite this, the Israeli government has approved 104 new settlements and permitted tenders for the E1 mega-settlement, which would bisect the West Bank.
The UK is also reimposing major economic sanctions on Iran, targeting its financial, trade, energy, and transport sectors, including a ban on investments and correspondent banking with Iranian companies. New legislation will expand the UK’s ability to sanction vessels linked to Iran’s nuclear program and disrupt destabilizing networks in the region. These measures follow commitments to further target Iran’s nuclear industries and the implementation of the ‘snapback’ mechanism last year.
The UK emphasized that its measures are directed at the actions of the current Israeli government, not the Israeli people, and are designed to support the two-state solution. The government also highlighted ongoing humanitarian efforts in Gaza, where over 80% of Palestinians are confined to 30% of the territory, with many lacking access to food, water, and medical supplies. The UK has provided sustained food assistance to over 1.4 million people and improved water and sanitation services to over 830,000 since 2023.