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
At least 10 dead after mass shooting during Hanukkah event on Australia's Bondi Beach

Tragic Shooting in Australia: Father and Son Target Jewish Community, Leaving 16 Dead Including Gunman

A devastating mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in…
How Bondi Beach terror attack happened moment by moment

Step-by-Step Account of the Bondi Beach Incident Unveiled

Hanukkah, known as the festival of lights, holds significant importance as one…
Picasso painting will be raffled off in Paris in April

Win a Masterpiece: Picasso Painting Up for Grabs in Exclusive Paris Raffle This April

Why plan an elaborate heist when you can acquire a masterpiece in…
Rabbi slams Australia over Bondi murder of two Jewish leaders, one with ‘deep US ties’

Rabbi Criticizes Australia After Tragic Bondi Murder of Two Jewish Leaders, Including One with Strong US Connections

A prominent New York rabbi has sharply criticized Australia for its “inaction”…
Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father of Selena, dies at 86

Remembering Abraham Quintanilla Jr.: A Tribute to Selena’s Father and Legacy at 86

In a poignant loss for the music world, Abraham Isaac Quintanilla Jr.,…
The surprising city where lazy workers refuse to come to the office

Discover the City Where Employees Are Opting Out of Office Life

In one of America’s most populous cities, the return of workers to…
Jim Caviezel starring in Bolsonaro biopic as son of jailed former president launches 2026 campaign

Jim Caviezel Takes the Lead in Bolsonaro Biopic as Political Drama Unfolds: Son of Jailed Ex-President Eyes 2026 Election

A biographical film about Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president who is currently…
FILE - Survivor of gun violence Mia Tretta speaks while standing next to a wall with photographs of victims of gun violence during the Inaugural Gun Violence Survivors

Brown University Student Resilience: From High School Shooting Survivor to Campus Safety Advocate Amid Active Shooter Alerts

Mia Tretta, a junior at Brown University, was hit with a wave…