'Symbolic' UK sanctions on Israel aim to avoid Washington's wrath

What Happened

Since Andy Burnham became UK prime minister, his government has announced two measures targeting Israeli settlements: a prohibition on British companies investing in illegal West Bank settlement projects, announced by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, and a ban on goods imported from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. At the same time, investigative journalist Matt Kennard reported that at least 10 military flights have travelled from UK Royal Air Force bases to Israel since Burnham took office, including eight US KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, a US C-17 transport plane from RAF Lakenheath, and an RAF A400M from Akrotiri, Cyprus, to Tel Aviv. The UK government said the A400M flight was resupplying British embassy personnel, but gave no comparable account for the other flights. The A400M can carry up to 37 tonnes of cargo, including a Patriot missile system, helicopters, or up to six Land Rovers.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reported continuation of military flights from UK bases to Israel, despite new sanctions on settlement trade, suggests that UK policy under Burnham remains substantively aligned with US and Israeli military logistics. The UK's use of RAF bases and its prior intelligence-sharing under Starmer, if accurate, would implicate Britain directly in support for Israel's military operations. The threat of legal action by the Global Echo Litigation Center against HM Revenue and Customs over alleged mislabelling of settlement goods as Israeli also highlights enforcement gaps that could undermine the new trade restrictions. The situation tests whether Burnham's government will move beyond symbolic gestures to cut military cooperation, impose an arms embargo, or restrict use of UK bases.

Watch For

Enforcement of the new settlement import ban and investment prohibition, including whether HM Revenue and Customs responds to the threatened legal action from the Global Echo Litigation Center. Further reporting on military flights from RAF bases to Israel, including UK government authorisation records. Any UK moves to impose a broad arms embargo, end intelligence-sharing, or block US use of UK bases. Reactions from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the Israeli government to the UK measures.