UK ‘horrified’ by Israeli escalation, to outline response today: Starmer
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he and his French and Canadian counterparts are “horrified” by Israel’s escalation in Gaza, a day after the three countries released a joint statement threatening to issue sanctions against Israel.
“We repeat our demand for a ceasefire as the only way to free the hostages, we repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank, and we repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” Starmer told parliament.
The prime minister added that Foreign Secretary David Lammy would later today outline Britain’s “response in detail”.
“We must coordinate our response because this war has gone on for far too long,” he said.
UK sanctions Israeli settler groups, activists
The UK has announced sanctions on a number of individuals and groups in the occupied West Bank who it said have been linked with acts of violence against Palestinians.
Among those targeted is Zohar Sabah, who the government says is involved in threatening, perpetrating, permitting and supporting acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians.
In November, the US also sanctioned Sabah for engaging in “acts of violence” in the West Bank.
The UK has also sanctioned Daniella Weiss, an outspoken activist, for the creation of more illegal settlements.
‘The world is judging,’ British foreign secretary says
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced a pause in trade deal negotiations with Israel and summoned Israel’s ambassador over its expansion of its military assault on Gaza.
Lammy said Israel’s conduct in its war on Gaza and the government’s support for illegal settlements is “damaging our relationship with your government”.
“I have seen for myself the consequences of settler violence, the fear of its victims, the impunity of its perpetrators. Today we are demonstrating again that we will continue to act against those that are carrying out heinous abuses of human rights,” Lammy told parliament as he announced sanctions on three people and four entities in the occupied West Bank.
The foreign secretary urged Netanyahu to return to a ceasefire to ease the suffering of people in the conflict. “The world is judging. History will judge them [Israel],” Lammy added.
“Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners – this is indefensible, and it must stop,” he said, reiterating that the two-state solution remains the “only framework for a just and lasting peace”.
