UK to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank

The United Kingdom is preparing to impose a trade ban on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to a Bloomberg report on Friday citing sources familiar with the matter.

On 12 September 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction of thousands of housing units in the Mevaseret Adumim (E1) area, which would connect the Israeli settlement city of Maale Adumim with East Jerusalem.

The project is considered likely to split the occupied West Bank of the Jordan River into two parts.

On Tuesday, Israel opened a tender for the project. Against that backdrop, the UK is drafting new sanctions that would prohibit trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to the report.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will consider a number of options in the coming weeks to increase pressure on Israel over its decision to proceed with settlement construction, according to Bloomberg.

In addition to sanctions on settlements, London may also expand sanctions on Israeli officials over alleged human rights violations and obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries.

Miliband is preparing to announce the new measures on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.

Earlier in June, the UK imposed sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as well as a number of radical settlers and organisations linked to them.

In early July, a group of British MPs urged former Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to impose sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin over alleged torture of Palestinian civilians deemed to be in violation of the law.