UK pauses trade talks and EU reviews relationship with Israel,as pressure grows on Netanyahu to halt Gaza siege

International pressure is mounting on Israel amid its renewed military operation in the Gaza strip, as both the United Kingdom and the European Union announced measures distancing themselves from the country on Tuesday. The United Kingdom paused trade negotiations with Israel and sanctioned West Bank settlers, as Britain's top diplomat slammed Israel's operation in Gaza as "morally unjustifiable" and "wholly disproportionate.

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Meanwhile, the European Union announced that it would review its relationship with Israel, with the EU's foreign policy chief calling the situation on the ground in Gaza "catastrophic."The announcements come a day after the UK, France and Canada threatened to take "concrete actions," including targeted sanctions, if Israel does not halt its fresh offensive and continues to block aid from entering Gaza. On Tuesday, however, the Israeli military vowed to "expand" its operations in the enclave.

Since May 5, Israel has been conducting a new offensive in Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying on Monday that his country plans to "take control of the entire Gaza Strip." Hundreds have been killed and an Israeli blockade has meant that no aid entered the strip for 11 weeks until Monday, when five trucks were allowed in - a tiny fraction of the 500 trucks that authorities say are required each day to sustain the population.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the humanitarian situation in Gaza "intolerable" on Tuesday, stressing that aid needs to enter the strip "at pace." “The current situation in which we are seeing the bombardment, including of children, and the prospect of starvation, is just intolerable,” Starmer said, adding that "we are coordinating with our allies on this."

'A dark new phase' in Gaza conflict

Speaking to lawmakers on Tuesday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed that the UK backed Israel's right to defend itself after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, but said the conflict was "entering a dark new phase."