UK pauses trade talks with Israel to protest Gaza action

Envoy summoned, sanctions announced UN relief agency says 'every-thing is empty' in Gaza Israeli ground operation threat to peace efforts, Pakistan says

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Britain paused free trade talks with Israel on Tuesday, summoned its ambassador, and announced further sanctions against Jewish settlers in occupied West Bank after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was horrified by the military escalation in Gaza.

After the Israeli military's new operation last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would take control of the whole of Gaza.

Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March and international experts have warned of looming famine.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the offensive was not the way to bring remaining prisoners home, called upon Israel to end the blockade of aid and condemned “extremism” in some sections of Israel’s government.

“We cannot stand by in the face of this new deterioration. It is incompatible with the principles that underpin our bilateral relationship,” David Lammy told lawmakers.

“Frankly, it’s an affront to the values of the British people. Therefore, today, I’m announcing that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement.

“We are demonstrating again that we will continue to act against those who are carrying out heinous abuses of human rights,” Lammy said.