UK officials ‘face ejection from Gaza office’: Reports

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Israel is considering expelling British and other European officials from the U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat in response to recent European criticism of its policies in Gaza and West Bank settlements. This move follows similar expulsions of Dutch and Spanish personnel and highlights escalating diplomatic tensions that could disrupt post-war coordination and international relations.

Israel is reportedly considering expelling British officials, and possibly those from other European countries, from the United States-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, a facility established in October 2025 to coordinate post-war efforts in Gaza. The United Kingdom currently has the second-largest delegation at the center, with a British officer serving as the deputy to the American general commanding the force.

The potential removal of British personnel is said to be linked to what Israeli officials describe as the UK’s recent conduct, which includes critical political actions. Last week, over 100 former diplomats from the UK and France signed a letter accusing Israel of systematically destroying Gaza and its population. Additionally, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly preparing to announce sanctions against Israel related to its settlement expansion plans in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, a move supported by members of his Labour Party. Some observers caution that such measures could lead to tensions with the United States, Israel’s closest ally, ahead of Burnham’s first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The issue of settlement expansion has also drawn criticism from other European leaders, including Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker, who has called for Israel to halt all settlement activities in the West Bank. Israel has not publicly responded to these statements.

Earlier this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Dutch representatives had been expelled from the CMCC and given one week to leave Israel, citing a series of Dutch government actions he described as “anti-Israel measures.” Sa’ar specifically pointed to the Netherlands’ decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights, legislation set to take effect in September. He also alleged an “unprecedented wave of antisemitism and boycotts” in the Netherlands, warning that Israel would respond to perceived hostile actions.

This follows the April expulsion of Spanish officials from the CMCC, with Sa’ar accusing Spain’s government of exhibiting a “blatant anti-Israeli bias.” The diplomatic rift with Spain also saw mutual ambassador withdrawals following the Gaza conflict that erupted after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, which resulted in over 1,000 deaths.

An Israeli official denied reports that Germany and Italy might also face similar expulsions from the CMCC, describing such claims as “fake.” The status of other European delegations remains unclear as Israel weighs its response to what it deems adverse foreign policies.

The developments underscore growing strains between Israel and several European governments over policies related to Israel’s actions in Gaza and settlement activity in the West Bank, complicating international efforts to manage the post-conflict reconstruction and peace initiatives in the region.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.