For too long, we have been hesitant to act, fearful of being accused of being anti-Israel. Today we are announcing carefully judged, targeted steps that are not aimed at the Israeli people, but at the unacceptable policies of the current Israeli government.<\/p>\n
The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world. Innocent Palestinians, including children, continue to be killed in Gaza<\/a>. And there is still a humanitarian crisis, with far too little aid getting in.<\/p>\n The scale of destruction is hard to comprehend. More than 70,000 people lie dead \u2013 at least 20,000 of them children<\/a>. Families and communities have been torn apart. Millions displaced. And the population of Gaza is now penned into just one third of the territory.<\/p>\n I know that people across the UK feel very deeply about this issue \u2013 and so do I.<\/p>\n Before I became prime minister, I said our country\u2019s response had been too slow and simply not good enough. That\u2019s why I committed to changing the government\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n I will not stand by as the horrific suffering continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution \u2013 the best hope for peace and stability in the region \u2013 comes under attack.<\/p>\n More settlements have been approved under the four years of this Israeli government than in the previous 20 years. The UN has reported more than 1,500 incidents of settler violence so far this year, aimed at driving out Palestinians. And the situation is growing worse, fast.<\/p>\n The Israeli government has now approved 104 new settlements since it took office in December 2022, and ahead of the October elections in Israel, it is allowing tenders for the construction of the E1 mega settlement<\/a> to go ahead. This would cut a swathe through the heart of the West Bank \u2013 snuffing out the hope of realising a two-state solution. It cannot be allowed to happen.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why we are announcing a new package of tough measures<\/a> to put pressure on the Israeli government:<\/p>\n First, we will ban the trade in goods with illegal settlements in Palestine<\/a>.<\/p>\n Second, we have formally changed the view of the British government to say for the first time that the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful \u2013 independent of, but in line with, the conclusion of the international court of justice<\/a>.<\/p>\n And third, we will sanction individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlements. That includes any businesses or investors that take part in the construction of the E1 settlement.<\/p>\n
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