Illegal settlements, settler violence and the West Bank

We are deeply concerned by the increase in violence by illegal settlers, ongoing settlement expansion, and by the Israeli Defence Force in the West Bank. The International Court of Justice has advised that Israel’s continued occupation is illegal as well as the seizing of Palestinian land and homes. Indeed, settlement expansion in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is one of the biggest barriers to peace.

We were the first party to vehemently call on the Government to sanction the extremists in the Israeli Cabinet who have advocated for this, 15 months ahead of the UK Government finally taking this step (Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich), and to implement an import ban on all goods from illegal Israeli settlements to ensure that the UK does not contribute to the growth of the settlements. These settlements are illegal under international law, exacerbate tension, and undermine the viability of a two-state solution.

In June 2025, the UK, together with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, announced an asset freeze and travel ban against both Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The UK said the two were “sanctioned for their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians”.

The UK had made clear in public and private to the Netanyahu government that Israel must cease expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state, clamp down on settler violence, and condemn inflammatory and extremist statements from both individuals. The sanctioning of both ministers demonstrates a commitment to holding individuals accountable for encouraging and inciting human rights abuses.

We must however continue to push for further accountability and condemnation of the incitement of human rights abuses. In his response to the Government on Tuesday 20th May, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Calum Miller, pressed the Government on when it will finally recognise that the Israeli Government’s actions constitute “an actual breach of international law”, rather than just the ‘risk’ of a breach which the Government has so far maintained.

Calum has also written to the Foreign Secretary, calling on the Government to commit to the following additional measures if Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Cabinet continues military action and refuses to comprehensively lift its aid blockade:

• Consider sanctions on other Members of the Knesset from the Otzma Yehudit and Mafdal–Religious Zionism parties, including:
  • Minister of Settlement and National Missions, Orit Strook, who claimed in April 2024 that “there is no such thing as a Palestinian people".
  • Minister of Heritage, Amihai Eliyahu, who said in November 2023 that “nuking Gaza” was a possible policy solution - which he later claimed was “metaphorical”.
  • Minister for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev, and the Galilee, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, who said in April 2024 that rebuilding Israeli settlements in Gaza would represent a “total victory” for Israel.

• Confirm that any Ministers in the Israeli Cabinet who mirror the language of Ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich and Katz and call for the dispossession of Palestinians should be considered eligible for future rounds of sanctions.
• Declare that the prospect of sanctions remain on the table for any Ministers in the Israeli Cabinet who oppose the comprehensive lifting of the aid blockade.

Ed Davey furthermore led an Early Day Motion, signed by every single Liberal Democrat MP, calling for the sanctioning of any Israeli Cabinet Minister who continued to support the aid blockade and expanded military action in Gaza.

In addition to this, I have also signed a Liberal Democrat Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on the Government to introduce legislation prohibiting trade between the UK and illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories - and urging all UK companies to ensure their supply chains are not linked to or profiting from illegal settlements.

Recent reports that JCB is profiting from Israel’s illegal settlements and occupation only underline the urgency of our demands. The UK Government must act now to ensure that no British company is complicit in the displacement of the Palestinian people.