Story so far.

The UK Government has finally announced measures targeting Israel’s illegal settlement project, including a ban on goods from illegal settlements, sanctions against companies and individuals facilitating settlement expansion, a ban on advertising settlement properties in the UK, and further sanctions against extremist settlers.

Although these measures are long overdue, we recognise them as a step towards the UK meeting its obligations under international law.

But the Government must not stop here.

In July 2024, the International Court of Justice found that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful. It made clear that all states have an obligation not to recognise that situation as legal or render aid or assistance in maintaining it, including by taking steps to prevent trade and investment relations. The Court also found that Israel’s prolonged occupation, annexation, settlement policies and denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self determination violate fundamental principles of international law.

For the first time, the British Government has formally recognised that Israel’s occupation is unlawful and has acknowledged that Palestinians in the West Bank are facing ethnic cleansing. Yet the Government is still choosing to maintain wider trade and military cooperation with Israel while it continues its genocide in Gaza, its system of apartheid and unlawful occupation.

If the Government recognises that the occupation is unlawful, why is it taking such limited action to end British complicity in it?

Don’t stop at settlements

The Government’s measures target settlements, but Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights extend far beyond the settlements themselves.

There is also a serious enforcement problem. Goods produced in illegal settlements can enter Israel and be mixed with or relabelled as Israeli goods, making it difficult to determine their true origin. Any settlement trade ban must therefore include robust measures to prevent goods from illegal settlements entering the UK market through Israel or other routes.

More fundamentally, the UK should not limit its response to settlement goods while continuing wider trade with Israel. What is now required is an actual meaningful reset in British policy towards Israel

Action on arms

The Government has confirmed that the suspension of more than 30 arms licences used by the IDF in Gaza remains in place, and that it will now refuse licence applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to Israel’s occupation.

But this must go further. Existing export licences that sustain the occupation must be ended, and restrictions must cover F-35 components supplied through the international parts pool that can ultimately reach Israel.

We are calling on the government to:

Ban Israeli goods and services

Introduce a full ban on Israeli goods and services, rather than limiting restrictions to products originating from illegal settlements.

Impose a full bilateral arms embargo

The UK must end all arms exports and transfers to Israel, including components supplied through international arrangements, and end military and intelligence cooperation that contributes to Israel’s genocide.

Sanction Israeli officials

The Government must impose sanctions on Israeli officials responsible for serious violations of international law, including senior political figures such as Benjamin Netanyahu.

Labour promised a foreign policy grounded in international law

Labour came to power promising a foreign policy grounded in international law and human rights.

The Government has now recognised that Israel’s occupation is unlawful. It has recognised ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. It has acknowledged that Israel’s settlement expansion is entrenching an unlawful occupation.

Those words must now be matched by action.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has continued alongside its decades long system of apartheid, occupation, dispossession and settlement expansion. The Government cannot recognise the reality of these violations while maintaining a wider political, military and economic relationship that enables Israel to act with impunity.

One step is not enough. Britain must fundamentally change its policy towards Israel.

Take Action

Contact your MP

Tell them that the settlement trade ban is long overdue, but that it cannot be the endpoint.

Email and ask them to support further sanctions on Israel.

Don’t stop here. Tell your MP: Palestine needs more.