UK MPs Demand Expanded Sanctions on Israel to Unblock Gaza Aid

A group of 75 British MPs and peers have urged the UK government to accelerate and broaden its new sanctions regime against Israel, specifically targeting individuals and entities obstructing the delivery of essential aid into Gaza. In a letter addressed to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, the signatories emphasized the urgent need for more stringent measures to combat the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by significant delays in aid distribution.

The UK's recently introduced sanctions regime, announced in September, initially focused on companies involved in trading goods and services linked to illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, as well as targeting violent settlers. However, these designations are anticipated to take approximately six months to become effective.

The letter, spearheaded by Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael and co-signed by Labour MPs Rushanara Ali and Abtisam Mohamed, along with Liberal Democrat Layla Moran, argues that sanctions are also crucial for addressing those who block aid, including extremist groups. The MPs implored the government to expedite the process, stating, “Make the first designations before winter sets in. Treat cases relating to aid obstruction in Gaza as a priority for assessment, and announce the first designations within weeks rather than months.”

Specifically, the letter calls for the sanctioning of Israeli ministers and officials deemed responsible for “designed, promoted or enforced” measures that have restricted access for the UN's Palestinian agency (UNRWA) and other aid organizations into Gaza. Furthermore, the signatories advocated for the UK to adopt a similar approach to EU sanctions against extremist groups impeding aid, leveraging a new mechanism that permits immediate sanctions mirroring those imposed by allied governments like the EU or the US. This includes entities such as the group Tzav 9, which has been under EU sanctions since July 2024 for obstructing aid convoys to Gaza.

The politicians also pressed the government to commit additional aid funding for food, water, and shelter in Gaza before the onset of winter, alongside efforts to “mobilise other donors.”

The government's new sanctions policy has reportedly caused divisions within the ruling Labour party. Some critics of Mr. Miliband's proposed measures have voiced concerns that they could jeopardize the UK's security and intelligence-sharing arrangements with Israel or potentially embolden far-right elements within Israel. Others fear that the sanctions may not be sufficiently robust to deter Israel's continued expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

Regarding settlements, the UK recently introduced the Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions Regulations 2026, an enhancement of its existing sanctions framework. Mr. Miliband stated on Tuesday that these new regulations would empower the government to act more rapidly in designating individuals and organizations on human rights grounds. This includes companies participating in Israel's controversial E1 settlement project, with applications closing on November 19. Mr. Miliband affirmed the government's commitment to “do all we can to prevent the settlement building in E1 from happening” and highlighted that the expanded sanctions regime was specifically designed for swift action.

However, he declined to specify which Israeli ministers or officials might face designation for their role in facilitating the expansion of West Bank settlements. The letter explicitly urges the government to utilize the powers granted by the new regulation to designate those involved in blocking aid to Gaza, stating, “The powers now exist. We urge you to use them now, beginning with those responsible for denying and obstructing life saving aid to Palestinians in Gaza.”

International agencies have consistently raised alarms about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The World Food Programme recently announced a reduction in its aid deliveries due to funding shortfalls, which will decrease the number of beneficiaries from 1.6 million to 1.1 million, with daily meal provisions rationed. Unicef has also warned of a potential two-week depletion of the Sheikh Radwan stormwater basin, with Israeli authorities reportedly preventing the necessary equipment for replenishment from entering Gaza, posing a risk of sewage-contaminated water flooding.

Meanwhile, charities have expressed concern that the UK may fail to meet its aid spending target of 0.3 percent of gross national income by 2027, following no adjustments to the budget in the recent autumn announcement. Projections from the Office of Budget Responsibility indicate an improved gross national income, yet the UK's aid budget is set to remain fixed from 2025. This could result in a shortfall of £320 million against the 0.3 percent target, according to Bond, a network of British charities. The Labour government had previously cut the aid budget in 2025, despite a commitment to reach 0.3 percent by 2027. The preceding Conservative government had already reduced this commitment from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent in 2021. The policy changes mean the budget allocated in 2025 will remain static, irrespective of economic growth.

Gideon Rabinowitz, director of policy and advocacy at Bond, stated, “The UK aid cuts have already cost lives and forced lifesaving humanitarian, health and climate programmes to close. But failing to meet even the paltry target of 0.3 per cent means the government is failing people facing the worst impacts of conflict, crisis and extreme poverty worldwide.” He urged the government to rectify this situation by meeting its 0.3 percent commitment and outlining a plan for a gradual return to the 0.7 percent target, with the Treasury also expected to return savings from other departments' aid spending to the Foreign Office.