Britain Threatens New Sanctions Against Israel
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
LONDON (Worthy News) – Britain’s prime minister threatened Wednesday to impose more sanctions on Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza and the Jewish nation’s expansion of settlements in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria.
Keir Starmer told the House of Commons, Britain’s lower house of Parliament, that “we’ve [already] suspended the [Free Trade Agreement] FTA talks and sanctioned extremists supporting violence in the West Bank.”
However, “We will keep looking at further action along with our allies, including sanctions,” Starmer warned.
His comments came after Israel’s government decided last week to allow 22 new settlements in Judea and Samaria, despite warnings from Starmer and other allies not to do so.
In a May 19 statement, the leaders of Britain, France, and Canada condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, saying, “We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.”
On Wednesday, Starmer stressed these are “dark days” for Gaza, which would force Britain to take “further action” against Israel over its actions in the coastal enclave.
He added, “We have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence [in Judea and Samaria] and the blocking of humanitarian aid.”
CEASEFIRE NEEDED
Yet, “let me be absolutely clear: we need to get back to a ceasefire; we need the hostages who’ve been held for a very long time to be released. And, we desperately need more aid at speed and at volume into Gaza because it’s an appalling and intolerable situation,” the left-leaning Labour prime minister stressed.
During the debate, protesters gathered outside Parliament to demand “the end of arms sales to Israel,” something that was repeatedly echoed by legislators such as former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent.
He called for a public inquiry to uncover what he called the “murky history of what’s gone on, the murky arms sales and the complicity in appalling acts of genocide.”
Corbyn proposed legislation to investigate “any U.K. military, economic or political cooperation” with Israel, with powers to question ministers and officials.
The draft bill is backed by prominent left-wing Labour legislators, including Diane Abbott and Richard Burgon, four independents, two Greens, members of the Welsh nationalist party in Wales Plaid Cymru, and the Scottish National Party (SNP).
A debate on the proposal was scheduled for July 4, but observers say it is unlikely to become law without government backing.
Israel’s government says its actions are linked to anti-terror measures after Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted some 251 on October 7, 2023.
Hamas-run authorities claim more than 54,000 people have been killed in some 20 months of warfare. Israel has given somewhat lower figures and says it includes about 20,000 Hamas fighters.
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