In a significant shift in its policy towards Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband declared that the UK government now considers the occupation unlawful and unveiled a series of measures targeting trade and services linked to Israeli settlements.

The announcement marks one of the clearest departures from the UK’s previous position and comes amid mounting international concern over settler violence, settlement expansion and the humanitarian situation facing Palestinians.

Miliband, who called himself a “proud British Jew”, described violent settler activity in the occupied Palestinian West Bank as “ethnic cleansing”, saying it was being carried out with the backing of the Netanyahu government.

Settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law, but that has not stopped many Western countries from continuing to trade with Israel.

“Today we refuse to be bystanders to further suffering and to the destruction of the two-state solution,” he said.

“We call out what is unlawful. We act on the import of goods from illegal settlements. We ban advertising of illegal settlements. We act on services to prevent new settlement expansion. We act on settler violence.

“We support accountability for what has happened in Gaza. And we pledge to galvanise the international community to confront the ongoing and urgent humanitarian crisis.

He added: “Above all, we say: Britain is not silent in the face of deep injustice and nor is it powerless.”

France and Canada join

In the statement, he added that Canada and France had joined the UK in banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Nine other European countries also said they are considering similar measures.

Miliband also said his support for Israel was “unwavering” while backing the two-state solution and making clear that he opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

Israel has been planning to develop 1,200 new homes in the occupied West Bank, while there has also been a rise in attacks by settlers against Palestinians this year.

Following the UK’s announcement, Israel banned 12 Britons from the country, including MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana and Naz Shah. The only person on the list who was not an MP was Fahad Ansari, a lawyer who operates an anti-Zionist legal group.

Tory leader Badenoch attacked the government’s decision to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and accused Labour of antisemitism. Israel’s foreign minister thanked her and the Conservative Party for opposing the sanctions.

Key quotes from Miliband’s speech

Occupation unlawful

“Now for a long time, the British government has rightly said settlements are illegal.

“But we have remained silent on the question of the legality of the occupation as a whole, which in 2024 the International Court of Justice concluded was unlawful.

“Today I announce that the official view of the British Government is that the occupation is unlawful.

“Because of Israel’s entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty, and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements.”

Ethnic cleansing

“The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank – perpetrated by settler terrorists.

“And all too often the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.”

Import ban

“I do not believe that the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets.”

“So I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.”

Action against companies

“We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement expansion.

“So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this, you will face the full force of UK sanctions.

“Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country.

“Earlier this year, shamefully, just a few miles from here, we saw an expo advertising illegal settlement land.

“We must and we will ensure this never happens again, so we will ban the advertising in the UK of illegal settlements.”

On extremist settlers

“Today we are sanctioning a further set of extremist settlers who have supported or incited acts of violence against Palestinian communities.

“And 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.”

Arms sales

“We have already suspended over 30 arms licences used by the IDF in Gaza. That suspension remains fully in place.

“We will now also refuse all licence 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. “

On Gaza

“In Gaza, the most unimaginable trauma and suffering in the last three years – death, destruction and dehumanisation on an appalling scale.

“A stain on the conscience of the world and of this country too.”

He added: “What has occurred, including the actions of the IDF, have been examined in depth by a number of organisations, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry.”

“The conclusions of these reports represent increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed.

“And we support legal processes to determine this.”

On genocide

“On the question of genocide, the UK has always supported full, robust and fair judicial processes to consider allegations, with final determinations made by competent courts before the British government reaches a conclusion….

“This will remain our policy. It is right that this issue has been brought before the ICJ and I want to make it clear that we support the Court in coming to its determination.”

Image credit: ©House of Commons