In a letter sent to the government on Monday, 137 Labour members of parliament called for concrete measures against Israeli settlements, arguing that continued expansion and settler violence required a stronger response from Britain.

“There is an urgent need for accountability and concrete consequences in response to Israel’s violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem,” the lawmakers wrote, describing a ban on settlement trade as a necessary next step.

The signatories represent more than a third of Labour’s 402 lawmakers in the 650-seat House of Commons, highlighting growing unease within the governing party over Britain’s policy toward Israel.

The intervention presents a challenge for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has sought to balance Britain’s longstanding alliance with Israel and the United States against mounting domestic pressure to take firmer action over Israeli conduct in Palestinian territories.

The occupied West Bank has seen accelerated settlement expansion under Israel’s current coalition government, with several ministers advocating annexation of parts of the territory. Most countries regard Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes.

Violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinian communities has also increased since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

Responding to the letter, a spokesperson for Britain’s Foreign Office did not directly address the demand for a trade ban but said the government had repeatedly condemned settler violence and the expansion of illegal settlements.

The spokesperson said Britain continued to call on Israeli authorities to prevent attacks by settler groups and address the destruction of Palestinian property.

Britain has already adopted a series of measures under Starmer’s government, including suspending some arms export licenses to Israel, pausing negotiations on a free trade agreement and imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

London also joined several Western allies, including France and Canada, in recognizing a Palestinian state last year.

The debate has increasingly focused on the proposed E1 settlement project, a development east of Jerusalem that critics say would divide the West Bank and undermine prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state.

Britain has publicly opposed the E1 project and, together with international partners, urged businesses not to participate in construction tenders linked to the development.

The Guardian reported that the government is considering additional measures to discourage corporate involvement in the project, although officials declined to comment on potential future sanctions or restrictions.

Speaking during a visit on Monday to Palestinian villages in the West Bank alongside former senior Israeli officials including Matan Vilnai and Amram Mitzna, Pardo said the conditions he witnessed reminded him of historic persecution faced by Jews in Europe and left him feeling “ashamed to be Jewish,” according to remarks carried by Israel’s Channel 13.

Pardo said Israeli authorities were fully aware of settler attacks on Palestinian residents but had chosen not to intervene, describing the trend as a moral and strategic danger for the country.

He warned that confronting radical settlers, some of whom he said were armed and enjoyed political backing, could trigger internal instability and deepen divisions inside Israel.Pardo specifically pointed to the influence of far-right cabinet ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom have supported stronger Israeli control over the West Bank and expansion of settlements.

Violence across the occupied territory has intensified in recent months, with Palestinian communities reporting repeated attacks, destruction of homes and farmland, and forced displacement.The United Nations considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law and has repeatedly called for a halt to settlement expansion, a position Israel disputes.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said annexation of parts of the West Bank was not currently being pursued, citing opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump.However, Saar said Israel remained opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state and would continue to strengthen its presence in the territory, a position that has further strained relations with the European Union and drawn criticism from rights groups and international partners.

The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, remains one of the central flashpoints in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with rising tensions fueling fears of broader regional instability.

Macron’s remarks, delivered during a state visit to Singapore, called on European nations to reconsider their diplomatic posture toward Israel, warning that the continuation of the status quo in Gaza was morally and politically untenable.

“If the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, Europe must adopt a hardened stance,” Macron said, adding that such a stance would involve “dropping the assumption that human rights are being respected, and applying sanctions.”

He further declared that recognizing a Palestinian state under conditions was “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity,” signaling a shift in France’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a swift and scathing response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing Macron’s position. “There is no humanitarian blockade. That is a blatant lie,” the statement said, defending Israeli efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“But instead of applying pressure on the jihadist terrorists, Macron wants to reward them with a Palestinian state,” the ministry added. “No doubt its national day will be October 7,” referencing the date of Hamas’ surprise attacks in southern Israel in 2023.

The Israeli government’s unusually sharp rhetoric underscores growing diplomatic friction between Tel Aviv and European capitals, particularly as calls intensify for an immediate ceasefire and increased humanitarian access in Gaza.

Macron’s stance aligns with a broader European sentiment that the prolonged conflict and civilian toll in Gaza require a recalibration of the West’s policies toward Israel. While France has traditionally maintained strong ties with both Israel and the Arab world, the war in Gaza appears to be testing those diplomatic balances.

France has not formally recognized a Palestinian state but has indicated it may do so unilaterally if peace prospects remain blocked — a move Israel sees as undermining negotiations and rewarding extremist factions.

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens and global outrage mounts, Macron’s call may signal a turning point in European diplomacy — and a potential diplomatic rift with Israel.