The United Kingdom, UK, a core member of the Western sphere of influence, has taken a historic first step to sanction Israel by imposing an automatic halt to their trade talks.
The office of the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, which announced the development today, said the action was in response to Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza and its comprehensive blockage of aid into the Palestinian enclave.
The UK also summoned the Israeli ambassador to UK over the same reasons.
The sanctions came just a day after the UK, Canada and France threatened to sanction the Jewish state for much the same reasons.
Both France and Canada were yet to give vent to their threats , at press time.
However, Israel has reacted with angst to the UK move.
A statement by the office of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed the sanctions, insisting that no foreign pressure would compel it to change course regarding its action in both Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.
Israel had on Monday allowed an insignificantly low number of trucks, nine by some credible accounts, into the strip, bearing what it termed ” basic amounts of food”.
About 100 trucks have reportedly delivered aid into the enclave today.
The Israeli move followed the unfolding of its joint plan with its main backer, America, to resume the entry of aid into Gaza after nearly three months of comprehensive blockage.
The plot is to be carried out under the aegis of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been described as an appalling proof of the weaponisation of humanitarian aid, by critics, who had since distanced themselves from it.
Various interest groups, including even Western ones, as well as others, especially those in the Southern hemisphere, have strongly criticized the move.
The developments come across the United Nations said up to 14,000 children in Gaza could die of starvation in two days if enough aid was not allowed into the strip.
Outside of Gaza, Israel is also waging a stiff military campaign in the Occupied West Bank.
Israel’ s war on Gaza has reportedly led to the killing of close to 60,000 persons, mainly women and children, according to the Hamas-led Gaza government.
It has also led to the injury to more than 100,000 others.
