Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced a series of retaliatory measures against the UK, including closing the British consulate in Jerusalem, expelling British representatives from the Gaza aid coordination center in Kiryat Gat, halting British training of Palestinian Authority forces, and banning 12 British officials from entering Israel, in response to British sanctions on Judea and Samaria. The measures were approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Tuesday a sweeping set of retaliatory measures against the United Kingdom, following what he described as "outrageous and false" accusations by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in Parliament and a new round of sanctions targeting Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
Speaking with the approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sa'ar detailed four main actions: the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem — active since the 19th century — and the expulsion of British envoys from the Gaza international aid coordination center in Kiryat Gat; the termination of the "British Support Team in Ramallah" that trains Palestinian Authority security forces; and a ban on entry to Israel for 12 British elected officials and citizens. Sa'ar further announced that the UK would no longer participate in the US-led coordination mission for Gaza, whose headquarters is in Israel.
The Foreign Minister framed the measures as a response to what he called a "systematic and escalating" pattern of unilateral anti-Israeli steps by the Labour government since it took office in July 2024. He listed prior actions including recognition of a virtual "Palestinian state" in September 2025, resumed UNRWA funding, suspension of defense export licenses, sanctions on Israeli ministers and entities, suspension of free trade agreement talks, and restrictions on Israeli participation in the DSEI defense exhibition.
As The Zioneer reported earlier this afternoon, the announcement followed calls from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to close the consulate immediately, and came against the backdrop of broader deterioration in UK-Israel relations under the Labour government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who succeeded Keir Starmer in July 2026. Burnham's platform included support for arms export restrictions and a proposed ban on trade with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria.
Sa'ar directly compared the British approach to the "White Paper" policies of the British Mandate era, calling the sanctions reminiscent of "antisemitic" measures and warning that Israel would not be a passive victim. He emphasized that the Israeli public overwhelmingly supports the communities in Judea and Samaria and rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The British sanctions announced Tuesday target Israeli development in Judea and Samaria, including the E1 area east of Jerusalem, where Israel approved planning in 2025 and has been advancing a tender process for months.
6 developments
- DevelopingIsrael bars entry of Corbyn, Sultana; halts UK training of PA forces
- DevelopingUK imposes trade restrictions on Judea and Samaria, personal sanctions on activists
- DevelopingBritish MP Zarah Sultana calls on Liverpool to sever ties with six sponsors over alleged 'atrocities'
- StrongIsrael orders British consulate in Jerusalem closed, prepares retaliation against France
Source and signal
- Open-source intake