In a coordinated move nearly a year after France initiated recognition of a Palestinian state, Britain, France, and Canada announced new measures on Tuesday to halt trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The British government also accused some settlers of engaging in what it described as “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians, marking a significant escalation in European pressure on Israel.

The policy shift reflects differing domestic political pressures. France’s gesture last year came as President Emmanuel Macron sought to solidify his legacy, while Britain’s recent action aligns with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s efforts to respond to criticism within the Labour Party over Britain’s perceived lack of response to the Gaza conflict earlier this year.

The move notably strains Israel’s relations with its two largest European military allies. Israel reacted sharply to Britain’s announcement, ordering the closure of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem and banning several left-wing British parliamentarians from entering the country. Israel also suspended British training of Palestinian security forces and excluded Britain from the U.S.-led Gaza coordination mission. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the British Labour government as “hostile” and accused it of acting systematically against Israel.

Beyond Britain, nine additional European countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden—have endorsed the ban on trade with settlements, citing an increase in settler violence and expansion. The countries called for national and European union laws to restrict trade in goods produced in the settlements, deemed illegal under international law. Britain, France, and Canada have further extended measures to target services linked to settlement activity, including financial institutions and companies that facilitate or profit from the settlements.

Settlements’ exports to Britain constitute a relatively small portion of overall trade, estimated at $8 billion annually, but exports such as dates, wine, and plastics, alongside Israeli government subsidies, remain economically important to settlement communities. Analysts suggest the new sanctions could have a tangible impact on the settlements and challenge Israeli government policies supporting them.

This diplomatic approach marks a departure from previous international efforts, with Britain particularly breaking from its traditionally closer alignment with the United States, which has expressed opposition to such sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration would not follow Britain’s lead.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, a prominent advocate of the new policy, characterized himself as a supporter of Israel but condemned the rising settler violence and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. He described the situation as “ethnic cleansing” and said Britain would not avoid action out of concern for Israeli retaliation. Miliband also indicated Britain had refused to delay measures until after Israel’s upcoming election, rejecting concerns that sanctions might strengthen Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line government.

The policy has drawn criticism from some quarters within Britain. Jon Mendelsohn, a Labour member of the House of Lords, argued that the approach risks damaging Britain’s influence over Israel without advancing prospects for a two-state solution.

Implementing and enforcing the trade restrictions will require extensive diplomatic and legal work in the months ahead. According to analysts, Britain’s decision represents an attempt to reclaim a leadership role in Middle East diplomacy, aiming to provide its allies with flexibility while exerting coordinated pressure on settlement activity in the West Bank.