Israel fires back at UK over suspended trade talks, rejects ‘external pressure’
Share and Follow

Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a fiery statement after the U.K. suspended free trade talks over Jerusalem’s handling of the war in Gaza. The U.K. simultaneously imposed new sanctions on the West Bank as it condemned the “persistent cycle of serious violence undertaken by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.”

The ministry claimed that talks for a new U.K.-Israel free trade agreement were already at a standstill before London’s announcement on Tuesday. Additionally, it accused the U.K. of harming its own citizens due to its “anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations.”

“Even prior to today’s announcement, the free trade agreement negotiations were not being advanced at all by the current UK government,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry wrote. “More than that, the agreement would serve the mutual benefit of both countries. If, due to anti-Israel obsession and domestic political considerations, the British government is willing to harm the British economy – that is its own prerogative.”

Israel also slammed the additional sanctions on the West Bank in light of the recent death of Tzeela Gez, an Israeli woman who was shot and killed in a terror attack while she was en route to the hospital to give birth. The Israeli Foreign Ministry noted that doctors are still “fighting for her newborn’s life.”

Netanyahu and Starmer shown side-by-side

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Getty Images)

While aid is being allowed to enter Gaza, Israel has faced backlash over the stringent restrictions, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot saying it was “insufficient.”

Tom Fletcher, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator who recently accused Israel of committing genocide, described the aid as “a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed” and called for “significantly more aid” to Gaza.

“We have been reassured that our work will be facilitated through existing, proven mechanisms. I am grateful for that reassurance, and Israel’s agreement to humanitarian notification measures that reduce the immense security threats of the operation. I am determined that our aid reach those in greatest need, and that the risk of theft by Hamas or other armed groups is minimized,” Fletcher said in a statement.

Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Unraveling the Disappearance: A Comprehensive Timeline of the Melodee Buzzard Investigation in Santa Barbara

The FBI has intensified efforts to locate a missing 9-year-old girl from…

Riverside Church Amplifies Support: Doubling Down on Pride Flags After Vandalism

On October 20, the Riverside Church at Park and King in Jacksonville,…

Tragic Incident: Passenger Goes Overboard on Norwegian Jewel En Route to Florida

A tourist has reported that an emergency situation has arisen on a…

Breaking: 2026 Social Security COLA Announcement Expected This Week—Discover Potential Increase Rates

Excitement is building as retirees await the annual announcement detailing the upcoming…

Small Plane Crash Lands on California Soccer Field, Strikes Woman

A woman in California was injured when a small airplane crash-landed in…

Oprah Dazzles with Slim Waistline at 2025 American Ballet Theatre Gala

Oprah Winfrey turned heads with her svelte appearance at the 2025 American…

Trump Advocates Tariff Strategy to Cattle Ranchers, Urges Reduction in Meat Prices

President Trump reached out to cattle ranchers on Wednesday, defending his tariff…

Shocking Porta-Potty Scandal: Man Charged with 100 Counts for Secretly Filming Students

An Iowa man is now facing nearly 100 charges after authorities alleged…