Key facts
- UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband urged Israel to withdraw from Gaza and halt West Bank settlement expansion.
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government is considering new policies, including a ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements.
- The government is also looking into sanctions on individuals and organizations involved in the West Bank settler movement.
- The UK is reviewing the potential to ban the export of UK-made military goods to Israel.
- Andy Burnham apologized for the previous Labour leadership's stance on the Gaza conflict.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called for Israel to withdraw from Gaza and cease its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government is reportedly poised to announce a raft of new policies in September, following parliament's summer recess, which could include a ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements.
Discussions are underway within the Foreign Office regarding potential legal sanctions for companies and organizations involved with settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. The government is also exploring a ban on charitable donations to settlements, a move that would contrast with the previous administration's stance. Sanctions on more Israeli ministers are also being considered, following similar measures taken last year against Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Furthermore, the government is reviewing arms sales to Israel, including the potential to ban the export of UK-made military goods. This comes after the previous government suspended around 30 export licenses for UK-made arms following concerns about their use in Gaza. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has apologized for the Labour leadership's earlier response to the Gaza conflict, stating they "got it wrong."