In response to British sanctions, Israel said it will close the British consulate in East Jerusalem, active since the 19th century, and expel British representatives from the command center in Kiryat Gat, according to The Zioneer.
At 17:26 Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced a broad package of retaliatory measures against Britain, hours after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir demanded the immediate closure of the British consulate in East Jerusalem. The measures include the closure of the consulate, which has been operating since the 19th century, the expulsion of British representatives from the Gaza aid coordination center in Kiryat Gat, the termination of the British training program for Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria, and a ban on 12 British officials and citizens from entering Israel. The announcement came in response to what Sa'ar described as a series of hostile actions by the UK Labour government since July 2024, including sanctions, funding for UNRWA, and arms export restrictions.
Earlier Tuesday, at 16:36 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that Minister Ben Gvir had appealed to the Prime Minister to close the consulate immediately, accusing it of operating on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. By 17:26, the initial reports of the closure and expulsion had escalated to a full list of measures, with the number of banned officials growing from ten to twelve and the inclusion of the training program suspension, as confirmed by the Foreign Ministry and approved by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The thread of reports within that same minute reflects an evolving official announcement, expanding from the consulate action to encompass broader diplomatic and security steps.
As The Zioneer reported on June 9, the UK had previously imposed sanctions on seven entities and individuals tied to Israeli residents in Judea and Samaria, a move that Israel viewed as hostile. The current retaliatory package also cites UK funding for UNRWA and restrictions on arms exports as catalysts. The closure of the consulate represents a significant downgrade in bilateral diplomatic representation between Israel and the United Kingdom.
The exact timeline for implementing the consulate closure and the expulsion of representatives has not been specified. The identities of the 12 British officials and citizens banned from entering Israel have not been disclosed. It also remains unclear how the British government will respond to this escalation.
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