The key facts

  • John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, called for 'full sanctions and the political isolation of Israel'
  • The call came after reports of collective punishment of Palestinians in Hebron following the death of two Israeli soldiers
  • Netanyahu announced preparations for a large-scale military operation in the West Bank

A call from a member of the ruling party

John McDonnell, a British MP from the ruling Labour Party, on Saturday called on the UK government to respond to the situation in the occupied West Bank of the Jordan River. According to him, it is London that should lead the way with 'full sanctions and the political isolation of Israel.' He published his statement on the X platform, reports the Anadolu agency.

Context of the statements

'As Netanyahu begins the process of turning the West Bank into a second Gaza, our government must act,' McDonnell wrote, adding that 'the message must be conveyed that this expansion of genocide will not be tolerated.' His words came after reports that Israel had begun a campaign of collective punishment against Palestinians in Hebron after armed men killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three near a checkpoint outside the city. On Friday, according to Anadolu, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a raid in Hebron, said the army was preparing a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank, involving the displacement of Palestinians from their neighborhoods and house searches.

Earlier on limited sanctions

Earlier this month, in an interview with Anadolu, the 75-year-old McDonnell called on the government to go 'beyond limited sanctions' against Israel and demanded a complete halt to arms sales. 'It is important that some sanctions have been imposed on Israeli settlements. This is not enough. Comprehensive sanctions are needed, an end to trade,' he said.

Significance

The statement is notable because it comes from a member of the ruling party rather than the opposition — this creates internal pressure on the UK government, which, in McDonnell's own assessment, has limited itself to sanctions against Israeli settlements. For British politics, this means a potential dispute over extending measures to a full halt of trade and arms supplies. It remains unknown how the government has responded to the call and whether reports of the collective punishment campaign in Hebron will be confirmed by independent sources.