Israel Orders British Consulate in Jerusalem to Shut Down Within 30 Days Amid Escalating Diplomatic Tensions

Israeli authorities have directed the British consulate in East Jerusalem to shut down, notifying diplomats that they will lose their accreditation within a 30-day window. According to sources speaking to Reuters, British representatives participating in a US-led Gaza co-ordination mission in Israel, alongside British diplomats operating from Ramallah, are required to depart within seven days.

The move follows an announcement by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Tuesday stating that Israel would shutter Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem. The decision serves as retaliation for the UK's policy to broaden a ban on imports originating from Israeli settlements located in the occupied West Bank.

Mr Saar condemned the British actions as "morally distorted" and a "blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and its electoral process." He further accused UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband of communicating "outrageous lies" while criticizing Israel. The UK government previously stated its intention to impose sanctions on individuals and entities linked to settlement expansion. Mr Miliband accused Israel of engaging in "ethnic cleansing" across areas of the West Bank, emphasizing that the UK could no longer limit its response to mere condemnation.

A broader coalition including France, Canada, and nine additional nations—specifically Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden—has joined the diplomatic initiative. These countries announced plans to introduce or evaluate national measures restricting trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, pointing to ongoing settlement growth and increasing settler violence as major obstacles to the two-state solution.

France highlighted the "frenzied expansion" of settlements and escalating violence as core justifications for its policy shift. Three sources informed Reuters that the Israeli government anticipates these measures and plans to deliberate its official response regarding all nations participating in the UK-led initiative.

Both France and Sweden currently operate consulates in Jerusalem that maintain accreditation with the Palestinian Authority. Historically, Israel has previously compelled the shutdown of diplomatic offices located in Ramallah, the administrative center of the Palestinian Authority, where nations such as Canada maintain a physical presence.

Data from the UN indicates that settler violence within the West Bank has escalated significantly this year. Since the start of 2026, UN figures show that 23 Palestinians have died and approximately 1,900 have sustained injuries due to settler violence in the West Bank.