London [UK], May 21: The UK has suspended trade deal talks with Israel, sanctioned West Bank settlers and summoned the country's ambassador as the relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government deteriorates.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy hit out at the renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the restrictions on aid to the population of the territory.
He also condemned the actions of "extremist" settlers in the West Bank, saying that Netanyahu's administration has a responsibility to intervene to halt their actions.
Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely has been called in to the Foreign Office, where Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said he would set out the Government's opposition to the "wholly disproportionate escalation of military activity in Gaza" and emphasise that the 11-week block on aid "has been cruel and indefensible."
In the Commons, Lammy said: "We have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement." He also said the UK is reviewing its co-operation with the Israeli administration, adding: "The Netanyahu government's actions have made this necessary."
The United Kingdom, France and Canada are "horrified" by the military escalation in Gaza and have threatened to take "concrete actions" against Israel if it does not stop its renewed offensive and lift aid restrictions.
"I want to put on record today that we're horrified by the escalation from Israel . We repeat our demand for a ceasefire," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the UK's parliament on Tuesday, as Israel doubles down on its deadly campaign in Gaza, killing at least 87 people in the last 24 hours.
On Monday, Starmer, together with France's Emmanuel Macron and Canada's Mark Carney released a joint statement calling Israel's escalation "wholly disproportionate".
"We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable," the leaders said, also condemning Israel's actions in the occupied West Bank.
"Israel must halt settlements which are illegal . We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has launched Operation Gideon's Chariots in a bid to control all of Gaza after cutting off food, fuel and medical aid in early March, accused the three countries of offering a "huge prize" to the Palestinian group Hamas, which is currently holding dozens of Israeli captives.
The three leaders slammed Netanyahu's move the previous day to allow a few trucks into the besieged enclave after nearly three months of total blockade as "inadequate", warning that the Israeli government risked breaching international humanitarian law. Israel reportedly allowed in just a few trucks on Monday, but more were expected on Tuesday.
They said they would not "stand by" while Israel pursued "egregious actions", highlighting the "abhorrent language" on pushing Palestinians out of Gaza used by members of the Israeli government like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and underlining that forced displacement would be illegal.
Husam Zumlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, told Al Jazeera that the "number one" thing the three countries could do was impose an arms embargo on Israel. "The UK has taken some measures to suspend some arms exports. It's not enough. It has got to be full and comprehensive," he said.
Zumlot also said the states should act to ensure that "war criminals" were "held accountable". "They must absolutely support our efforts at the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice," he said.
Francesca Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, questioned how the threatened sanctions would be targeted. "Targeting whom? You need to impose sanctions on the state. It's not about the prime minister. This is the entire government enterprise," she told Al Jazeera on Monday.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that Israel's partial lifting of the blockade on Monday was "totally insufficient".
Source: Qatar Tribune
