Hamas praises UK sanctions on Israeli settlements and calls for war crimes trials

Hamas expressed approval of the sanctions imposed by Britain’s foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, on goods from West Bank settlements and the characterization of settler actions as "ethnic cleansing." Basem Naim, a senior Hamas political bureau figure, called the steps important yet inadequate, demanding that Israeli leaders face war-crimes trials comparable to the historic Nuremberg proceedings. The UK also moved to block financial, infrastructure and construction support to settlements and halted weapons export licences that could aid the occupation.

In retaliation, Israel shut the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, expelled British diplomats and barred entry to eleven left-wing MPs, including Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott. Eight Muslim-majority nations issued a joint statement supporting the sanctions, while Iran’s state media praised the move. Israeli officials signalled attempts to limit the sanctions’ reach, and a British embassy official warned the measures could inadvertently harm Gaza’s civilian population.