Citing the existence of "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians," Britain will impose a trade ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, the country's foreign secretary announced Tuesday.
In a statement to lawmakers in the House of Commons, Ed Miliband said today marks the "beginning of a new approach" on Israel, announcing that the UK will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements.
"The legislation I have announced today will be in place within six to nine months and we will also take more immediate steps," he noted.
Tuesday’s measures "represent a clear message" to the government of Israel, to the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and to the world that "we will not acquiesce in destruction of the two-state solution," he said.
However, he noted that the sanctions regime will target illegal settlements and settlement expansion, not Israel itself, adding that for this reason, he "wholeheartedly" opposes the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
On top of Israel's official state policy, "settler terrorism is rampant," he said, adding that the UK will sanction a further set of extremist settlers in the West Bank "who have supported or incited acts of violence" against Palestinians.
Miliband stressed that those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements in the West Bank "will face the full force of UK sanctions."
He went on to say that the UK will take action against "specific companies and individuals" who provide services and financing for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlement.
"I can also announce that we are extending the existing global human rights regime such that it will enable swifter action to deter settlement expansion, including crucially seeking to present the development of E1," said the foreign secretary
Ban will remain 'as long as occupation persists'
Miliband said the British government agrees that there is "ethnic cleansing of Palestinians" in the occupied West Bank perpetrated by Israeli "settler terrorists."
In his address, he also confirmed that the existing British suspension of 30 arms export licenses to Israel will remain "fully in place," adding that the UK will refuse all license applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation, in effect a double lock against arms sales.
"This means the ban on such exports will now remain as long as the occupation persists," Miliband underlined.
The foreign secretary also urged Israel to lift its withholding of revenues, saying the measure is financially "crippling the provision of essential services in the West Bank."
On Gaza, he cited "increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed" in Gaza Strip, adding that the UK supports legal processes to determine this.
He said that the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks "cannot justify what has happened in Gaza,” noting that over 70,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since then, including "at least 20,000 … children."
Miliband also said the UK has already designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and said the government "will do more today on Iran’s proxy groups."
"So today I can also announce we are sanctioning Lebanese Hezbollah’s financing arm, Al-Qard Al-Hassan," he added.
Miliband also said he is "proud of my Jewishness and unwavering" in his support for the state of Israel.
He added: "There is absolutely no contradiction between this and my support for the state of Palestine. Indeed quite the opposite."
Miliband said that they should be proud that it was a Labour government that took the "historic step" of recognizing the state of Palestine.
He added: "But the Prime Minister (Andy Burnham) is right to say that the Labour government has not done enough in the face of what is happening."
Palestinian ambassador welcomes 'historic' announcement
Palestinian Ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot welcomed Miliband's announcement, calling the new measures "historic."
"Today marks a turning point in UK–Palestine relations — from recognition to action, from condemnation to consequence," he said in a statement.
Saying the announcement comes a year after Britain's recognition of the state of Palestine, Zomlot said that it represents continuity of purpose, not an end in itself.
"Recognition cannot be meaningful if the territory of the recognised state is simultaneously being taken from its people in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," he added.
Britain’s new measures follow Israeli plans to develop 1,200 new homes in the occupied territory, a move that sparked widespread condemnation from the international community. as all settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.
The prime minister recently vowed "comprehensive measures" in response to the expansion of illegal settlements.
UN data indicate that violence by Israeli occupiers has reached "unprecedented levels," with more than 1,400 attacks resulting in casualties or property damage documented in 2026 alone.
Approximately 750,000 Israeli occupiers currently reside in 516 illegal settlements and outposts across the occupied territory, carrying out near-daily efforts to displace Palestinians from their land.
'Suffering of Palestinian people is scar on conscience of world'
Later, the British government released a statement giving details on how the UK will use its power to enable sanction regime.
The statement noted that with the immediate sanctions against perpetrators of settler violence, the number of those currently sanctioned by the UK as a result of settler activity has risen to 38.
Also explaining the UK's legal opinion, the statement reiterated that the occupation is unlawful in line with the central finding of the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion.
"Our view is based on the nature and totality of the Government of Israel’s actions in Palestine over many decades: the length of the occupation, Government of Israel’s entrenchment of its control and expansionist agenda via illegal settlements," it noted.
The statement noted that the current Israeli government has approved 104 new settlements and permitted tenders for the construction of the E1 mega settlement to go ahead, which as planned would cut through the heart of the West Bank.
In the statement, Burnham said that he is determined his government "will continue to act in defence of our values."
He noted that Tuesday’s measures aimed not at the Israeli people, but in support of the two-state solution, and the prospect of Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.
"The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world. Innocent Palestinians, including children, continue to be killed in Gaza. And there is still a humanitarian crisis, with far too little aid getting in," he added.
