UK Threatens to Escalate Sanctions on Israel Without Gaza Ceasefire

(MENAFN) British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced Tuesday that the United Kingdom is ready to escalate sanctions against Israel if a ceasefire in Gaza is not reached within weeks.

Appearing before the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Lammy signaled that the government is prepared to intensify its stance should the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsen.

“If we do not get the ceasefire we’re all praying for in the coming weeks … will the government go further to take measures against Israel?” Labour MP Alex Ballinger asked.

“Yes, we will,” Lammy responded.

His comments come after a joint sanctions initiative last month involving the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, which targeted Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. As reported by media, the measures were in response to what the UK labeled "egregious abuses" of human rights in Gaza.

Those sanctions included travel bans and the freezing of financial assets.

Although domestic pressure is mounting—including from senior Labour officials and major trade unions—for the UK to formally recognize Palestinian statehood, Lammy refrained from setting a deadline.

“I’m not going to tie myself to a calendar because it’s convenient for a soundbite,” he said, emphasizing that any decision on recognition must be judged by its potential to bring substantive improvements on the ground amid ongoing ceasefire talks.

Lammy also pointed out that, despite a wave of international recognition from countries like Ireland, Spain, and Norway, “what we’ve seen is further annexation on the West Bank,” suggesting that symbolic recognition has yet to translate into tangible progress toward peace.

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