Ed Miliband praised by Hamas for imposing UK sanctions on Israel
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has drawn fierce domestic criticism and unexpected praise from Hamas after imposing new trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Ed Miliband has faced sharp domestic backlash and unexpected praise from militant groups following his decision to impose new sanctions targeting illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, a move that aligns Britain with eleven other nations on trade restrictions.
The intervention by the Express highlights how the Foreign Secretary's recent actions have triggered severe international and domestic fallout. Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas's political bureau, publicly applauded the measures. According to reporting from the Express, the militant group — classified as a terrorist organisation in the UK — hailed the restrictions as a step in the right direction while demanding further action, including the prosecution of Israeli figures akin to the Nuremberg trials. Iranian state media similarly welcomed the restrictions as a step towards the dissolution of Israel.
These developments have intensified political friction. The Foreign Secretary has described West Bank settlers as settler terrorists and accused them of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, marking the first time a British minister has explicitly labelled the occupation unlawful. In response, the Israeli government rejected the claims as lies and moved to retaliate, including making plans to shut Britain's consulate in Jerusalem, as detailed by the Express.
Domestic critics wasted no time seizing on the endorsements. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice demanded the Foreign Secretary's resignation, arguing that the public praise from militant groups compromises national security and makes Jewish people less safe. Writing in the Daily Mail, political commentator and former prime minister Boris Johnson dismissed the sanctions as a shameful waste of time that will fail to secure a two-state solution, comparing the policy unfavourably to the 2005 Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the subsequent destruction of local economic ventures by Hamas authorities.
| Entity | Stance on UK Sanctions | Reported Action or Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Hamas | Praised as a "step in the right direction" | Called for war crime prosecutions and international resolutions |
| Israeli Government | Rejected claims as "lies" | Announced plans to shut the UK consulate in Jerusalem |
| Reform UK (Richard Tice) | Strongly condemned | Demanded the immediate resignation of the Foreign Secretary |
| Iranian State Media | Welcomed the measures | Described the policy as a step towards the end of Israel |
The Daily Mail commentary further argues that the seventh sanctions package levied against Israel since the October 7, 2023 attacks, which killed around 1,200 people, owes more to domestic political management and appeasing hard-left factions than practical diplomacy. Critics contend that such measures will cost jobs among vulnerable populations in the Occupied Territories rather than supporting Palestinian farmers or businesses, while hardening Israeli political resistance against future negotiations.
As the government navigates mounting controversy over its foreign policy alignment, scrutiny over the long-term efficacy of these trade bans continues to grow. Observers will be watching closely to see how the Foreign Office responds to retaliatory diplomatic downgrades from Jerusalem and whether international partners adjust their own enforcement mechanisms in the weeks ahead.
