Miliband announces settlement goods ban and arms ‘double lock’
Moves included amid sharp criticism of Israel’s actions, with foreign secretary accusing the Israeli government of enabling 'ethnic cleansing' of Palestinians.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has announced a sweeping set of new measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including an import ban on goods produced in illegal settlements and a “double lock” on arms sales to Israel.
The moves included amid sharp criticism of Israel’s actions in the region, with Miliband accusing the Israeli government of enabling “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Miliband told MPs that the UK government now believes “that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank perpetrated by settler terrorists.”
He continued: “The Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.”
Recognising the significance of his accusation, Miliband said, “I recognise the gravity of accusations of ‘ethnic cleansing’, but the truth is this is the least the people who face such suffering deserve.”
Miliband confirmed that the British government had concluded, in line with the July 2024 advisory opinion published by the International Court of Justice, not just that the occupation of the West Bank was “illegal” but also that it was “unlawful.”
Announcing “a new comprehensive sanctions regime,” the Foreign Secretary said there would be “appropriate religious exemptions” but stressed that action would be taken against “specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate for settlement construction.”
In further measures, Miliband declared that the government would “ban advertising in the UK of illegal settlements,” noting, “shamefully we saw an expo advertising illegal settlement land just a few miles from here.”
Turning to arms exports, Miliband told MPs, “We will now also refuse all licence applications for arms and other exports that materially contribute to the occupation – in effect a double lock against arms sales.” He noted that the government had already suspended 30 arms licences used by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza.
On the contentious issue of whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, Miliband reiterated the government’s position: the UK would “wait for proper judicial processes to consider allegations.”
Describing conditions in Gaza, the Foreign Secretary said the people there were experiencing a “totally avoidable catastrophe” and highlighted that children were “dying waiting for medical treatment” while “food insecurity” was rampant—a situation he called “unconscionable.”
Reflecting on his own heritage, Miliband told the Commons, “I am a proud Jew and someone with the deepest gratitude to the state of Israel for giving a home to my grandmother after she lost her husband to the Nazis, my grandfather, and 60 other family members at the hands of the Nazis.” He went on, “We reject anyone who questions Israel’s right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people. We call you out whenever you engage in this attempt at the erasure of Israel.”
He also addressed the trauma caused by the October 7 Hamas attacks, stating, “People across Israel and Jews across the world are suffering trauma in what was a murderous act by a murderous terrorist organisation.” Miliband affirmed, “Israel had every right to defend itself for threats carried out by terror groups like Hamas.”
Miliband also announced new UK sanctions on Lebanese Hezbollah’s “financing arm Al-Qard Al-Hassan,” and addressed the rise of antisemitism in Britain. He said it was “shamefully” the case that Jews needed protection to go about their ordinary lives.
He confirmed he would host J7 representatives in the UK next month to “discuss different ways we can work across borders to tackle antisemitism.” He added, “Holding Jewish people responsible for the actions of the Israeli government is antisemitism, plain and simple.”
Concluding his statement, Miliband told MPs, “There is no contradiction between being a proud Jew having ‘unwavering support for Israel’ and being someone who supports a Palestinian state.” He clarified, “Our argument is not with the people of Israel, with whom the UK has unshakeable bonds, but that our argument is with the conduct of its government.”