UK slaps new sanctions on Israel, halts trade talks over Gaza violence

The UK has imposed Israel with further sanctions and halted trade talks with the country as it dramatically stepped up its response to violence against Palestinians in Gaza.

Foreign secretary David Lammy condemned Israel for a “morally unjustifiable” escalation in violence as he announced fresh measures to pile pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu — just hours after the UK, Canada and France warned they would take “concrete actions” against the Middle Eastern nation.

Mr Lammy also said Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely would also be summoned to the Foreign Office, where she would be told the 11-week block on aid to Gaza had been “cruel and indefensible”.

The move came amid growing alarm over warnings that 14,000 Palestinian babies could die in the next 48 hours if action is not taken to get aid into Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer had already joined French president Emmanuel Macron and Canadian PM Mark Carney in issuing a statement warning of substantive action if the Israeli government did not allow aid into the region,.

But MPs from five political parties — Labour, the Tories, Lib Dems, Greens and SNP — told Mr Lammy that the government needs to go further and faster including suspending arms sales to Israel.Labour MP Melanie Ward, a parliamentary private secretary, asked the foreign secretary:

“What is the red line? Gaza is out of time.”Another Labour MP Azfal Khan said: “Suspending trade negotiations and other measures you have announced today will not stop the killing innocent Palestinians. Concrete steps are over due. When will you impose a full arms embargo on Israel and also recognise Palestine?”

Labour MP Naz Shah urged the foreign secretary to go further saying he should “act to actually stop what is happening.”

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In a passionate appeal, former Tory minister Kit Malthouse warned: “He knows as well as I do the Israelis could not give a damn what is said in this chamber. Many of this in this House have been urging this government to take action.

We have tried angered and outrage and got nowhere. We have tried shaming ministers into action. Maybe we need to beg for the lives of those Palestinian children before they will trigger this action whatever it might be.”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, now an independent MP, demanded to know what sales the UK is selling to Israel.

Labour MPs Andy Slaughter and Alex Sobel demanded sanctions on Israeli ministers.

Lib Dem MP Vikki Slade said: “I would like to join colleagues in begging you, on my knees if we need to, please take more action.”

Independent MP Zara Sultana pointed out that since the limited arms exports suspension last year more weapons including parts for F35 bombers had been sold to Israel.

It came as violence escalated in Gaza following a renewed military offensive and continued restrictions on aid, which Mr Lammy said marked a “dark new phase in this conflict”.

Speaking in the Commons, he condemned Netanyahu’s government for “planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need”.

On Monday, Mr Netanyahu’s government said it would allow a “basic” amount of aid into Gaza to prevent a “hunger crisis” from developing, acknowledging there is international pressure from Israel’s allies on the issue.

But, speaking in the Commons ahead of Mr Lammy, the prime minister said this is “totally and utterly inadequate”, adding: “We cannot allow the people of Gaza to starve”.

Hitting out at the “utterly intolerable” situation, he said: “We’re horrified by the escalation from Israel. 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.”