In a speech to the House of Commons on September 8, British Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband, announced far-reaching changes to British policy in relation to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. He announced a UK government ban on importing goods and products originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He outlined steps to cut off supply lines, finance, construction, and other services that facilitate settlement expansion. Miliband explicitly described the forced displacement of Palestinians by extremist groups in parts of the West Bank as “ethnic cleansing,” criticizing the Israeli government for turning a blind eye or supporting settler violence. He formally accepted the International Court of Justice’s ruling that the ongoing occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is unlawful, stating that the two-state solution is under unprecedented threat.
Miliband fell short of specifically supporting the consequences of the ICJ’s decision as spelt out by the Court which are: end the occupation as rapidly as possible; dismantle settlements and evacuate settlers; provide full reparations to Palestinians; UN member states are obliged not to recognise the occupation as legal and not to aid or assist in maintaining the situation. Nevertheless, the new policies of the British government, despite their limitations, are the furthest any Western government has gone and will have significant influence in the world-wide opposition for Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian lands.
As regards the two-state solution, the Foreign Secretary said: “The two-state solution is based on an explicit belief that the only route to security for both peoples is to live side by side in peaceful co-existence with freedom, security and self-determination. Securing the two-state solution in its fullest form is the North Star of this government’s policy, and indeed of successive British governments over decades. And it is precisely this belief in the rights and freedoms of the Israeli and Palestinian people that leads many, including me, to a deep sense of shame about what has unfolded in Palestine under the eyes of the international community.
In Gaza, the most unimaginable trauma and suffering in the last three years — death, destruction and dehumanization on an appalling scale has occurred. It is a stain on the conscience of the world and of this country too. And in the West Bank, there are clear attempts to — in the words of Israeli Finance Minister [Bezalel] Smotrich – and I quote — “bury the idea of a Palestinian State.” “So Madame Deputy Speaker, there is a deeply painful contrast between our professed commitment to a two-state solution, and the reality on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank. What we seek today is to salvage the only course for peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians — the two-state solution.”
In relation to the West Bank, Miliband pointed out that “at the time of the Oslo peace accords in 1993, around 270,000 settlers lived in the occupied Palestinian territories. Today it is some 770,000.” “65 Palestinian communities [have been] completely expelled since 2023 — a total of over 4,000 Palestinians evicted from their homes due to settler violence and state actions. And in August, the crossing of a long-standing red line: the issuing of E1 tenders for over 1,200 homes.” These are the atrocities that he deemed to be “ethnic cleansing” quoting Ehud Olmert and other Israeli officials.
Importantly, Miliband stated: “But we have remained silent on the question of the legality of the occupation as a whole, which in 2024 the International Court of Justice concluded was unlawful…Today I announce that the official view of the British Government is that the occupation is unlawful.”
After detailing the horrors that have unfolded in Gaza, the Foreign Secretary said: “Mr. Speaker, international humanitarian law imposes clear rules for states fighting wars — including to ensure access to food and medical supplies, to avoid mass displacement of civilians, and to avoid the targeting of civilians. What has occurred, including the actions of the IDF, have been examined in depth by a number of organization.” The Foreign Secretary said that the conclusions of these reports represent increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed.
On the question of genocide, he said that “the UK has always supported full, robust and fair judicial processes…before the British government reaches a conclusion….It is right that this issue has been brought before the ICJ and I want to make it clear that we support the court in coming to its determination.” If, therefore, the ICJ finds that Israel committed genocide in Gaza in the case currently before it brought by South Africa, Britian has committed to accepting the decision.
Eleven countries have joined Britain’s policies regarding Israel. These are: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.
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