Israel is weighing the expulsion of British and European officials from a U.S.-led Gaza coordination center, citing recent diplomatic tensions over settlement policies and trade restrictions. The move, reported by multiple outlets, comes amid strained relations between Israel and several European nations.
Israel has reportedly begun discussions on removing British and European representatives from the International Gaza Support Center (IGSC), a U.S.-led coordination hub monitoring the ceasefire with Hamas. The proposal, cited by the Financial Times and other outlets, follows a series of diplomatic clashes over Israeli settlement expansion and trade policies. A senior Israeli official denied rumors of expelling German and Italian representatives, but the UK’s role in the center remains under scrutiny.
Expulsion Plans and Diplomatic Tensions
The Israeli government is considering removing British officials from the IGSC in light of Britain's conduct in recent months,
according to officials cited by The Jerusalem Post. The UK currently has the second-largest delegation at the center, after the U.S., with a British deputy serving under an American general overseeing operations. This development follows a series of anti-Israel measures by European nations, including the Netherlands’ upcoming ban on goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced the expulsion of Dutch representatives from the center earlier this week, citing the Netherlands’ trade restrictions as anti-Israel measures.
The Dutch ban, set to take effect in September, prohibits the import, sale, and purchase of products from settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights. Israel will not allow measures to be taken against it without a response.
UK’s Commitment and European Criticism
The UK government has defended its role in the IGSC, stating it is committed to the implementation of the 20-Point Plan in Gaza and playing our part in improving the situation on the ground.
A spokesperson emphasized that the UK’s participation aligns with efforts to support UNSCR 2803 and remove the UK or other partners would undermine these shared efforts.
However, British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has criticized Israeli settlement tenders, calling them unacceptable and destructive
to the two-state solution.
Miliband’s remarks followed Israel’s announcement of tenders for the E1 settlement project, a controversial expansion in the West Bank. Sa’ar countered that the Jewish people have the right to live throughout the Land of Israel,
comparing it to the British have the right to live in London and throughout the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the UK is reportedly weighing a ban on trade with settlements and sanctions against those involved in expansion, according to the Financial Times.
International Reactions and Geopolitical Implications
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker joined the criticism, urging Israel to must immediately withdraw the E1 settlement plans and halt settlement expansion in the West Bank.
This aligns with broader European concerns about the viability of a two-state solution. Over 100 former diplomats from France and Britain also published an open letter accusing Israel of systematically destroying Gaza and its population, calling the project “unacceptable.”
The IGSC, established as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, coordinates humanitarian aid and post-war stabilization efforts. British planning officers have been deployed to support the initiative, though the UK has not led combat operations in Gaza. Israel’s potential expulsion of European officials could disrupt multilateral cooperation, as the center relies on international participation to monitor the ceasefire and aid distribution.
What Comes Next for the IGSC and Regional Relations
The outcome of Israel’s discussions remains uncertain. While an Israeli official denied reports of expelling German and Italian representatives, the U.S.-led Board of Peace would need to approve any major changes to the IGSC’s composition. A Board of Peace official stated, We continue to engage our Israeli counterparts on ways to maintain and strengthen multilateral co-ordination and to accelerate progress on the president’s Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously rejected a 15-point Gaza roadmap, citing Hamas’ failure to disarm. The IDF will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed,
he said, emphasizing the need for genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament.
However, the potential expulsion of British officials could complicate efforts to stabilize Gaza, as the UK’s involvement has been seen as a stabilizing factor in the region.
