Key facts
- Israel is reportedly considering expelling British officials from the International Gaza Support Center.
- The center is a multinational headquarters established to monitor the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
- Over 100 former British and French diplomats have called for urgent action, including trade and arms sales bans, to press Israel to accept a Palestinian state.
- These diplomats accused Israel of ethnic cleansing and warned that the world no longer sees Israel as a genuine democracy.
- The UK and France, along with nine other countries, condemned Israeli government tenders for the E1 settlement project.
Israel is reportedly considering expelling British and potentially other European officials from the U.S.-led International Gaza Support Center, a multinational headquarters established to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Financial Times reported the discussions, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Separately, over 100 former French and British diplomats have issued an unprecedented joint letter accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing and urging their governments to impose trade and arms sales bans to press for a Palestinian state. The diplomats contend that Britain and France have a responsibility to act, given their historical role in the region and their recognition of Palestine as a state in 2025.
The letter, addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, highlights concerns that Israel's actions are destroying any prospect of an independent Palestinian state and show contempt for international law and UN resolutions. This comes after the UK and France, along with nine other countries, condemned Israeli government tenders for the E1 settlement project, which they stated would undermine the viability of a two-state solution.
Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, responded to the condemnation by asserting the Jewish people's right to live throughout Israel. Meanwhile, diplomacy surrounding Israel's withdrawal from Gaza has largely been delegated to negotiations involving Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy. Israel has rejected a recent U.S.-led peace plan for Gaza, drawing criticism from eight Muslim countries, including the UAE, which stated Israel's actions fundamentally undermine peace efforts.