The United Kingdom has announced a significant shift in its policy regarding Israel, redefining its official stance on the Israeli presence in the West Bank and the status of settlements there. British Ambassador to Kuwait, H.E. Qudsi Rasheed, outlined the changes during a press briefing in Kuwait City on October 3, emphasizing that the updated position aims to uphold the viability of a two-state solution amid ongoing developments in the West Bank and Gaza.
The UK government now recognizes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank as unlawful under international law, marking a departure from its previous position which primarily focused on the illegality of Israeli settlements. “The policy has changed, the tone has changed and the actions have changed as well,” the ambassador stated, characterizing the government’s new approach as more assertive.
Highlighting remarks made by British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Rasheed noted that the UK government has publicly condemned acts it describes as ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in parts of the West Bank carried out by settler groups. The Foreign Secretary has asserted in Parliament that such violence, attributed to settler extremists, has sometimes been overlooked by Israeli authorities.
Regarding Gaza, the ambassador referenced Foreign Secretary Miliband’s comments on credible evidence of war crimes and pledged British support for independent investigations, including by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The UK has introduced several practical measures aligned with its revised policy. These include restrictions on trade involving goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements and guidelines discouraging British companies from engaging in economic or financial activity linked to these settlements. Advertising properties located in settlements will also be prohibited in Britain under the new rules.
Furthermore, the UK has expanded its restrictions on arms exports to Israel, now barring sales of weapons that could be used to further what it considers the unlawful occupation of the West Bank. Despite these measures, the ambassador emphasized that the policy shift should not be construed as hostility toward Israel or its people. Instead, the UK affirms its continued support for Israel’s right to exist alongside the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.
In reaffirming the two-state solution, Rasheed reiterated Britain’s condemnation of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and recognized Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense while cautioning that not all Israeli actions in Gaza are justified under this principle. The UK government formally recognized Palestine in 2024 and has implemented further supportive measures for Palestinian statehood since then.
Asked how Britain could recognize Israel while labeling the occupation unlawful, the ambassador explained that the UK’s policy is rooted in support for coexistence and mutual recognition of both states.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously reaffirmed this position during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, stating the UK’s commitment to banning trade with illegal settlements and to viewing the occupation as unlawful.
The UK is coordinating with several international partners, including France and Canada, which have taken or are considering similar actions. A joint statement issued on September 8 by the UK and other countries outlined coordinated plans for national and European restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements.