Israel has told the United Kingdom to close its consulate in occupied East Jerusalem within 30 days, following Britain's announcement of sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli officials also informed the UK that British diplomats working at the consulate will lose their diplomatic status within the same 30-day period, according to sources familiar with the matter.
UK staff on a US-led Gaza coordination mission, along with those based in Ramallah, must leave within seven days, according to one Israeli official and two other sources. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office had been approached for confirmation.
The measures are part of a series of retaliatory steps by Israel after the UK, France and Canada announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements on Tuesday.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that the UK would be removed from the Gaza mission and that several British MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, would be barred from entering Israel.
Saar also confirmed the closure of the UK consulate in occupied East Jerusalem.
"The British move is morally distorted, and constitutes blatant interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and its electoral process," Saar said, in an apparent reference to Israeli elections next month that could see Prime Minister Netanyahu unseated.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he had appealed to Netanyahu for the consulate closure as "Israel's resolute response to British audacity," accusing the UK of operating on behalf of the Palestinian Authority.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Wednesday he regretted Israel's decision but was not surprised by it.
"We weighed the costs and benefits of acting … and we thought we simply could not stand by because we feared Israeli action," Miliband said.
Miliband had also accused the Israeli government of turning a "blind eye" to what he described as "ethnic cleansing" by settlers in the West Bank.
On Tuesday, Miliband told lawmakers that, in addition to banning imports of goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the UK would take measures against companies and individuals providing services to settlements, including in the areas of "construction, infrastructure, financing, or real estate."
France and Canada also announced bans on imports of products from Israeli settlements. Nine other countries, including Denmark and Portugal, endorsed the British action.
France also maintains a consulate in occupied East Jerusalem accredited to the Palestinian Authority.
The UK, France and Canada were among countries that formally recognised the State of Palestine in 2025 and have previously imposed sanctions on settlements and Israeli ministers over accusations of inciting violence against Palestinians.
Israel's government was due to meet on Wednesday to discuss its response to the other countries that signed the UK statement.
