Nearly 140 Labour MPs Urge UK Government to Ban Trade With Israeli Settlements
Nearly 140 Labour Members of Parliament have called on the UK government to prohibit trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, increasing pressure on ministers to take stronger action against settlement expansion.
In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the MPs argued that economic links with Israeli settlements undermine international law and Britain’s longstanding support for a negotiated two-state solution.
The signatories reportedly include every Labour select committee chair, highlighting the breadth of support within the governing party for tougher measures against settlements deemed illegal under international law.
Among those backing the initiative is Labour MP Melanie Ward, who said lawmakers were alarmed by what they described as a significant increase in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
“We are deeply concerned at the vast rise in violent Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians, and at settlement expansion, which forces Palestinians off their land,” Ward said.
She added that the current trajectory of settlement growth threatens the prospects for a future Palestinian state.
“The Israeli government itself is clear this is designed to prevent a two-state solution ever being realised,” she said.
The intervention comes amid growing international concern over escalating tensions in the West Bank, where settlement construction has accelerated and reports of settler violence have increased since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.
The UK government has repeatedly stated that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law and constitute an obstacle to peace. However, Britain has not imposed a comprehensive ban on trade with settlements, despite calls from campaign groups and some lawmakers.
Supporters of the proposed ban argue that allowing goods produced in settlements to enter British markets effectively legitimises activities that violate international law. They contend that restricting trade would align UK policy with its stated position on the illegality of settlements and reinforce support for a viable Palestinian state.
The letter reflects growing pressure within the Labour Party for a more assertive approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly regarding settlement expansion and the future of a negotiated two-state solution.
The Foreign Office has not yet publicly responded to the MPs’ request.
