Israel vows to retaliate if UK imposes sanctions
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar warned that Israel would retaliate should the UK imposed sanctions over illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
During an interview with Israeli news outlet Ynet on Tuesday, Sa'ar was asked about the tense relationship between Israel and the UK over recent Israeli plans to further expand settlements.
Sa'ar accused the Labour government of "acting systematically against Israel", adding that it has "already harmed defence exports to us and imposed sanctions on ministers".
In June 2025, London imposed sanctions on Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting settler violence against Palestinians during Israel's genocide in Gaza.
"If Britain acts against Israel, Israel will act against Britain," Sa'ar said.
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"They will be making a big mistake," he added.
He told Ynet that Israel is now bracing for UK sanctions and preparing a response.
Late last month, Sa’ar and UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband traded barbs over Israel’s highly controversial plan to expand settlements in Area E1 in the occupied West Bank.
The proposed Israeli E1 project is designed to connect Jerusalem to Ma'ale Adumim and other settlements east of the city, carving into land on which Palestinians seek to establish their state.
On Tuesday, Miliband told British MPs that his government plan to impose "comprehensive" package of sanctions in the coming weeks.
Miliband said Israel's new plan in area E1 "risks making a Palestinian state unviable".
"This government will not acquiesce in the destruction of the two-state solution," he added.
Miliband vowed the British government "will act and I will set out a comprehensive set of measures in the coming weeks."
Sa’ar outright rejected Miliband’s statement, saying that "Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy" and will defend "its rights, its interests and its people".
Warnings to London
According to Israeli right-wing outlet Ma’ariv, Israel has already warned London that it would respond “substantially” if the British government imposes sanctions on Israeli settlements.
The report, published on Monday, said the nature of any retaliation has yet to be decided, with Israeli officials considering diplomatic, economic or other measures.
One measure under consideration is expelling British officials from the US-led International Gaza Support Centre (IGSC), established to monitor the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Last week, Israel expelled Dutch officials from the centre, over the Netherlands' recent ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements. Earlier this year, Israel kicked Spain out of the IGSC, accusing Madrid of "obsessive anti-Israel bias".
Ma’ariv said Israel is weighing the risk that retaliation could damage long-term ties with British politicians who may return to power, as a future Conservative or Reform UK-backed government is expected to be more friendly towards Israel.
The newspaper also reported that the US administration is passing messages between the two governments and pressuring London not to impose sanctions.
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