British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has declared that the Israeli government is actively losing friends and allies across the international community as a direct result of its ongoing actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Speaking on Tuesday during an interview with the UK-based podcast The Rest is Politics, Miliband emphasized the scale of this diplomatic shift, stating, "The Israeli government is losing friends. It’s not gaining allies; it’s lost allies. It’s losing allies all over."
Miliband linked the UK’s recent decision to impose sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to the broader concern that the prospect of a two-state solution is being "destroyed by the facts on the ground." He clarified that these government measures are specifically designed to address the "illegal occupation" rather than target Israel as a state. The foreign secretary highlighted the E1 settlement expansion project as a critical red line, noting that it threatens to sever East Jerusalem from the West Bank, which would effectively render a viable Palestinian state impossible. He further cited the 2024 International Court of Justice ruling on the occupation, the duration of the occupation, and the displacement of Palestinians as key drivers behind the UK's policy shift.
Describing the current status quo as ineffective, Miliband asserted that the UK cannot remain passive regarding what he characterized as "settler terrorism." He maintained that a stable Middle East is unattainable without a two-state solution. Regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Miliband described the situation as "terrible" and suggested that Israel’s restrictions on aid entering the enclave appear to be "an absolutely deliberate strategy." He stated, "Nothing can justify what has unfolded in Gaza," adding that he had heard "absolutely unspeakable" and "appalling" accounts from individuals, including a doctor who had worked in the region.
Miliband also expressed skepticism regarding the current ceasefire, noting that 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since it was implemented, which he argued was "not much of a ceasefire." While acknowledging that the outcome of the Israeli elections on October 27 remains unknown, he stated that the UK is attempting to send a clear message to the Israeli people that the international community will not remain silent as the occupation persists. Last week, the UK government announced a series of measures, including a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements, sanctions on companies and individuals involved in settlement expansion, and additional penalties for settlers accused of inciting or supporting violence against Palestinians.
