In response to the UK government’s announcement that it will suspend free trade agreement negotiations with Israel and impose sanctions on settlers, Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

“Stronger language and some new measures announced today are welcome albeit long overdue, but the UK government’s response is still inadequate to compel Israel to change course.          

“Pausing trade negotiations, which Israel claims weren’t progressing anyway, will sadly not pressure Israel to alter its illegal actions. Similarly, sanctioning a few individual settlers, instead of banning all settlement goods, will do little to shift Israel’s approach. 

“The UK must immediately stop all arms transfers to Israel, including components for F-35 fighter jets currently decimating Gaza. It should also ban investment in companies and banks that maintain Israel's unlawful occupation and apartheid system and prohibit imports from illegal settlements.

“For countless Palestinians, this may be the final breath of freedom. This is a moment for the UK government to use every political, judicial, and diplomatic lever at its disposal to help bring an end to the Israeli government’s genocide, apartheid, and occupation.”