UK
UK suspends trade deal talks with Israel over new Gaza operation
Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused the Israeli government of ‘isolating Israel from its friends and partners’ through its ‘egregious actions and rhetoric’
May 20, 2025 14:03
Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused the Israeli government of ‘isolating Israel from its friends and partners’ through its ‘egregious actions and rhetoric’
May 20, 2025 14:03The UK government has announced it has suspended trade deal negotiations with Israel over the new IDF operation in Gaza.
The decision was announced this afternoon by the foreign secretary, David Lammy, in response to the launch of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which could see Israel “take over” the entire Strip.
He told the Commons: “Civilians in Gaza facing starvation, homelessness, trauma, desperate for this war to end, now confront renewed bombardment, new displacement and new suffering.
"Two months ago, the ceasefire collapsed. Since then, the humanitarian catastrophe has rapidly intensified.
"The diplomatic deadlock between Israel and Hamas, has sadly also hardened.”
He also stated that the operation “endangers” the remaining hostages held in Gaza by the terror group and said that it represents a “dark new phase” in the conflict.
Lammy then accused the Israeli government of “isolating Israel from its friends and partners...undermining the interests of the Israeli people and damaging the image of the State of Israel” through its “egregious actions and rhetoric,” adding that “what is happening [in Gaza] is morally wrong”.
And he referred to the criticism from Jerusalem of a joint British, Canadian and French statement calling for the end of the operation, which Prime Minister Netanyahu has claimed would offer “a prize for [Hamas’] genocidal attacks” on October 7, 2023.
Lammy said: “Opposing the expansion of a war that has killed thousands of children is not rewarding Hamas. Opposing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians is not rewarding Hamas.
"On this side of the house, we are clear: what is happening is morally wrong, unjustifiable and has to stop.”
Later in the statement, he announced a new raft of sanctions against three individuals and four firms linked to West Bank settlements.
One of those subject to the new measures was Daniella Weiss, a settler activist who appeared in a recent Louis Theroux documentary on the subject of the outposts.
All those named will be subject to “financial restrictions, travel bans and director disqualifications” relating to the UK.
In comments released with the announcement of the measures, Lammy added: “I have seen for myself the consequences of settler violence. The fear of its victims. The impunity of its perpetrators.
“The sanctioning of Daniella Weiss and others today demonstrates our determination to hold extremist settlers to account as Palestinian communities suffer violence and intimidation at the hands of extremist settlers.
“The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions. Their consistent failure to act is putting Palestinian communities and the two-state solution in peril.”
However, he declined to commit to sanctioning far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich over their “dangerous” and “repellant” rhetoric, citing Smotrich’s recent comments about displacing Gazans to third countries.
Meanwhile, Lammy confirmed that the Foreign Office had summoned Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely for a meeting regarding the new offensive with Middle East minister Hamish Falconer.
Falconer said: “Today I will set out to Ambassador Hotovely the government’s opposition to the wholly disproportionate escalation of military activity in Gaza and emphasise that the 11-week block on aid to Gaza has been cruel and indefensible. I will urge Israel to halt settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank.
“Israel must abide by its obligations under International Humanitarian Law and ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza. The limited amount of aid entering is simply not enough.
“We must get an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages and a path to a two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.”
In response to the announcement, a spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry claimed that trade negotiations had already stalled and called the sanctions “unjustified”.
They added: “If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy — that is its own prerogative.
"The sanctions against residents of the West Bank are unjustified, and regrettable, especially at a time when Israel is mourning yet another victim of Palestinian terror — Tzeela Gez, of blessed memory, who was murdered on her way to the delivery room. Doctors continue fighting for her newborn’s life in hospital.
"The British Mandate ended exactly 77 years ago. External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”