Israel retaliates against UK settlement sanctions: closes East Jerusalem consulate, expels Gaza coordination personnel, bans MPs from entry

Israel notified the UK on Wednesday that it must close its consulate in occupied East Jerusalem within 30 days, and that UK personnel participating in the US-led Gaza coordination mission as well as UK personnel stationed in Ramallah must leave within 7 days. This is Israel's retaliatory response to the UK, France and Canada jointly announcing a ban on imports of Israeli settlement products from the West Bank the previous day.

According to Al Jazeera citing Reuters, the Israeli side communicated this timetable to the UK through two Israeli officials and two informed sources. The expansion of settlements on occupied territory is widely recognized by the international community as violating the Fourth Geneva Convention and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The UK, France and Canada had previously imposed sanctions on settlements and Israeli officials over allegations of inciting violence against Palestinians, none of which succeeded in halting the continuation of colonial expansion.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed on Wednesday that the Israeli side is excluding the UK from the Gaza coordination mission and banning several UK MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, from entering the country. Saar characterized the UK's sanctions as "moral distortion", saying they "constitute blatant interference in a sovereign nation and its electoral process". Israel is scheduled to hold elections next month, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing the risk of being replaced. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for his part, demanded that Netanyahu close the consulate, describing it as "a firm response from Israel to British arrogance" and accusing the consulate of operating on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in an interview with the BBC on Wednesday that he was "disappointed but not surprised" by Israel's decision. "We weighed the costs and benefits of the action... we believe we cannot stand by for fear of Israel's reaction," he told the BBC.

The measures announced by the UK on Tuesday include: banning the import of products manufactured in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and taking action against companies and individuals providing construction, infrastructure, financing or real estate services to settlements. France and Canada simultaneously announced a ban on imports of Israeli settlement products, and nine other countries, including Denmark and Portugal, expressed support for the UK's initiative. The UK, France and Canada all officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2025. France also has a consulate in East Jerusalem accredited to the Palestinian Authority, and it has not yet announced whether it will face reciprocal Israeli measures. Al Jazeera has requested the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to confirm the details of the above reports, but has not yet received a formal response. The Israeli government was scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss response measures against other countries that signed the UK joint statement, the specific content of which has not yet been announced.