Burak Bir
08 September 2026•Update: 08 September 2026
Human rights group, pro-Palestine movements and British Jewish organizations welcomed the UK's announcement Tuesday to impose a trade ban against illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the largest pro-Palestine movement in Europe, said in a statement that the government’s statement is a "significant move," setting out intentions to hold Israel to account for violations of international law and crimes against the Palestinian people.
"Although belated and still inadequate, the government is right to ban the import of settlement goods, to take action against companies involved in settlements and to extend the suspension of arms sales to Israel, including those used to maintain the occupation of the West Bank," it noted.
Amnesty UK also said the government's promised comprehensive reset marks a "fundamental shift" in its approach to Israel’s unlawful occupation.
"Measures must now be implemented and enforced, and followed by further action to hold Israel accountable and meet the UK’s international legal obligations," it said.
British Palestinian Committee called the announcement a "shift" in position from the previous Labour government, saying it is a "necessary and overdue step."
"As Israel continues to colonise Palestinian land and kill, maim, torture and imprison Palestinians across Palestine on a daily basis, the UK government must demonstrate that this announcement represents a substantive change in policy that is enforceable and robust," it said in a statement.
Jewish Labour Movement also said that action against settlement expansion and settler violence is "absolutely necessary," but added that many in the Jewish community "will hold questions and voice concerns about the timing and specifics of the policy."
Another British Jewish organisation, YACHAD, called the announcement an "important and necessary development."
Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel said it "unequivocally opposes" the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and "condemns" all settler violence.
It claimed, however, that the decision to ban trade with settlements is the "wrong response at the wrong time," referring to upcoming Israeli elections.
Save the Children UK said it welcomed the announcement from Miliband, saying it represents a "decisive shift" in the government's approach to the occupied Palestinian territory.
"We support the Foreign Secretary's commitment to ensure the UK are not ‘bystanders to further suffering,’” the group said on X.
Nick Dearden, director at Global Justice Now movement, said the ban is "extremely welcome, especially at a time where Israel is ramping up its brutal expansion."
"Today's announcement is the result of many years of work by campaigners and Palestinians themselves fighting to end severe injustice," he wrote on X.
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians also welcomed the measures, but added it must be "enforced with teeth, not left as symbolic gestures."
In a statement to lawmakers in the House of Commons, Miliband said Tuesday marked the "beginning of a new approach" on Israel, announcing that the UK would introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements.
