Starmer says UK weighing further Israel sanctions, decries ‘appalling, intolerable’ situation in Gaza

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says in the House of Commons that London will consider further actions against Israel, including sanctions, decrying settler violence and the recently expanded military campaign in Gaza.

“Israel’s recent action is appalling and in my view counterproductive and intolerable, and we have strongly opposed the expansion of military operations and settler violence, and the blocking of humanitarian aid,” says Starmer in response to a question about Gaza.

“We have suspended the FTA talks and sanctioned extremists supporting violence in the West Bank,” he continues, saying, “We will keep looking at further actions along with our allies, including sanctions.

“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,” Starmer says.

Last month, the UK imposed sanctions on two illegal West Bank settlement outposts and three Israeli settlers, including veteran settler leader Daniella Weiss and her organization Nachala, and a company involved in the construction of illegal settlement outposts.

It also froze its Free Trade Agreement talks with Israel in protest of the ongoing conflict.