The Green Party has welcomed restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements as an overdue first step, but says the measures must be strengthened and followed by wider action to end British complicity in Israel’s illegal occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Greens have long campaigned for a settlement trade ban and are calling for comprehensive restrictions on goods, services and investment in both directions, covering all illegal settlements with no loopholes.
The party has called for a full two-way arms embargo, wide-ranging sanctions and an end to military and intelligence cooperation with Israel.
Green Party Foreign Spokesperson Dr Ellie Chowns MP said:
“The measures announced today mark a critical and overdue step towards upholding the UK’s obligations under international law – one which the Green Party has long fought for and strongly supports. We additionally welcome the government’s recognition that the occupation is unlawful and that Palestinians face ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Exerting pressure on the Israeli Government over illegal settlements is crucial to protecting the human rights of Palestinians, and Greens are pleased to see action taken to progress this aim.
“Important questions do remain regarding the scope of announced measures on services and investment. Ministers must make clear that restrictions cover all illegal settlements, not only settlement expansion; UK businesses must additionally be stopped from financing, insuring, and profiting from settlements that already exist. A comprehensive ban must cover goods, services, and investment in both directions, including goods containing settlement-produced ingredients or components and the letting of settlement properties, with effective enforcement and no loopholes.
“The Foreign Secretary has spoken of a fundamental reset in Britain’s relationship with the Israeli Government – this reset could not be more welcome, nor more needed. It is critical that our work does not end here; the UK has a legal and moral responsibility to use every lever to end its complicity in the Israeli Government’s crimes, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“Britain’s legal duty to prevent genocide arose when ministers knew, or should have known, of a serious risk. That threshold was crossed long ago. Continuing military and intelligence cooperation with Israel while Palestinians are killed and denied lifesaving aid is a shameful failure to fulfil that duty. Ministers must take further action.
“That requires a full two-way arms embargo, wide-ranging sanctions, an end to military and intelligence cooperation, and withdrawal from the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. Existing export licenses that sustain the occupation must be ended, and restrictions must cover F-35 components supplied through the international pool. Britain must also press for unimpeded humanitarian access and independent war crimes investigations to secure accountability and justice.
“This is a moment of real progress, and should be recognised as such. But it must also be the beginning of something much bigger. The Green Party will welcome every meaningful step towards upholding international law and protecting Palestinian rights – and we will keep pushing for further action that is still urgently needed.”
The Green Party is calling for the UK Government to:
- Ensure restrictions form a comprehensive ban on goods, services and investment in both directions, covering all illegal Israeli settlements – not only settlement expansion – with effective enforcement and no loopholes.
- Deliver the fundamental reset in relations with Israel promised by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, standing firm against threats of retaliation from US and Israeli officials.
- Introduce a full two-way arms embargo, covering both sales to and purchases from Israel, end existing export licences that sustain the occupation, and reverse the exemption for F-35 components supplied through the international pool.
- Impose wide-ranging sanctions, including banning the sale of Israeli government bonds in the UK and trade or investment involving companies that contribute to Israel’s genocide, alongside targeted sanctions on responsible senior officials.
- End all military and intelligence cooperation with Israel – including cancelling and publishing the classified 2020 UK-Israel military agreement, which remains in force.
- Demand and help secure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so essential food, medicine, shelter, and other aid can reach those who desperately need it.
- End the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.
- Push for safe and unimpeded access to Gaza for international media, enabling journalists to report freely and independently.
- Use every available diplomatic lever to ensure immediate and regular International Committee of the Red Cross access to all prisoners and detainees held in Israeli facilities.
- Drive independent investigations into war crimes and back justice mechanisms for victims, in order to bring about the accountability required for a just and lasting peace.