London, 12th August 2025 – The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has written to the newly appointed Middle East Minister, Stephen Doughty MP, calling for an immediate implementation of targeted sanctions on all trade with illegal Israeli settlements to bring the United Kingdom in line with its stated commitment to international law, and to take action that carries real and measurable consequences.
Following his appointment, Minister Doughty’s statement on 30 July condemned the escalation of violence across the West Bank and the threat of further settlement expansion, and reaffirmed that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law. While ICJP welcomes this statement, condemnation alone is incapable of bringing about the tangible change that is urgently needed.
The letter also highlights that Minister Doughty’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment. On 3 July, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to establish thirteen new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Less than three weeks later, on 18 July, Israeli ministers announced more than £300 million in funding to further expand settlement construction across the occupied West Bank. Both measures form part of an escalating effort to entrench Israel’s unlawful settlement enterprise and create further irreversible changes on the ground.
At the same time, there is growing recognition within the UK that statements of condemnation must be accompanied by concrete measures. On 7 June, 140 Labour MPs wrote to the then Foreign Secretary, calling for a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Most recently, on 5 August, the Charity Commission announced it will investigate the flow of charitable funds to illegal settlements, examining whether such spending was in furtherance of charitable purposes and determining what regulatory action may be necessary.
ICJP’s correspondence to Minister Doughty makes clear that these developments signal the UK establishment is moving in a direction that sets a clear expectation for the action we urge him to take, making any inaction on his part increasingly difficult to justify.
Given his unique position as Minister of the Middle East and ability to enact sanctions, ICJP calls on Minister Doughty to implement targeted sanctions without further delay on all trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. These sanctions must address not merely particular actors or transactions, but the broader commercial and financialrelationships that contribute to the maintenance and expansion of Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise.
Órlaith Roe, ICJP’s Public Affairs and Communications Officer, said:
“Sanctions are not a radical step – they are the bare minimum required to uphold international law, and the legal position on Israeli settlements is clear. The question for the UK Government is no longer whether it condemns settlement expansion, but what concrete measures it is prepared to take in response.
There is no longer any justification for the government to ignore its responsibilities under international law. It must now give practical effect to its statements of condemnation, and Minister Doughty has the power to do just that.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
- For more information, to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at [email protected].
Image: Arlington National Cemetery via Wikimedia Commons.
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