UK pauses trade deal talks with Israel over Gaza offensive

LONDON: British Foreign Minister David Lammy is set to announce the pausing of trade deal negotiations with Israel, the government said on Tuesday, adding that it had also summoned Israel’s ambassador over its expansion of Gaza offensive.

In this connection, Lammy was quoted as saying that the conduct of war was damaging the UK relations with Israel.

Meanwhile, the UK has also levelled new sanctions targeting West Bank settlements.

Lammy said the UK’s existing trade agreement was in effect but the government could not continue discussions with an Israeli government pursuing given the egregious policies in the West Bank and Gaza.

“The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions,” Lammy said. “Their consistent failure to act is putting Palestinian communities and the two-state solution in peril.”

EXTERNAL PRESSURE WILL NOT DIVERT ISRAEL

On the other hand, Israel said external pressure will not change its course after Britain paused free trade talks.

“If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy – that is its own prerogative,” Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said in a statement.

“External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.”

HORRIFIED

Earlier in the day, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he, along with the leaders of France and Canada, was horrified by the military escalation in Gaza, repeating calls for a ceasefire.

“I want to put on record today that we’re horrified by the escalation from Israel,” Starmer told parliament, after releasing a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“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 said foreign minister David Lammy would set out Britain’s “response in detail” later on Tuesday.

“We must coordinate our response, because this war has gone on for far too long.”

CONCRETE ACTIONS:

A day earlier, Starmer had joined Macron and Carney had threatened to take “concrete actions” against Israel if it does not stop its renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions.

The joint statement read, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.”

Moreover, they said, The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching international humanitarian law.”

“We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law.”

At the same time, Starmer, Macron and Carney warned of taking concrete actions.

“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”