UK sanctions on Israeli settlements ‘welcome but not far enough,’ says Labour lawmaker John McDonnell

UK sanctions on Israeli settlements ‘welcome but not far enough,’ says Labour lawmaker John McDonnell

British lawmaker John McDonnell has called on the government to go "beyond the limited sanctions" against Israel, saying a total halt to arms sales is needed amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The 75-year-old Labour Party MP for Hayes and Harlington is among British lawmakers who have joined pro-Palestine marches in London since the beginning of Israeli attacks on Gaza in October 2023. He joined a recent rally in central London which marked three years of Israel's genocide against Palestinians. On Saturday, over 250,000 people took to the streets in support of Palestine. "The genocide goes on, and the reason we're back on the streets is because children are still being killed," he said. Since the ceasefire in Gaza in October 2025, 1,700 more Palestinian have been killed in Israeli attacks, he said.   UK should do more McDonnell stressed that these demonstrations aim to continue the campaign to end the genocide, and to put pressure on the UK government to do more. Referring to UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband's recent statements saying pro-Palestinian protesters and rallies "were right," to oppose the Israeli attacks, the British lawmaker noted that now the government should go further. "Now you need to take some actions beyond just the limited sanctions that there are. Full sanctions on Israel. The end of all arms, all arms sales, and also support for the Palestinian state," he added. Last month, Miliband said that they hear the millions of people in the UK and elsewhere who have been moved and outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people. "You were right. And under (Prime Minister) Andy’s (Burnham) leadership, we have reset our approach," he said.   End of trade to Israel Asked if he supported the new government's stance on Gaza and sanctions targeting the illegal Israeli settlements, he said it is important that the government has accepted that "those of us who have been demonstrating were right." "It's important that they've introduced some sanctions against the Israeli settlements. It's not far enough. What we need is overall sanctions, the end of trade," said the lawmaker. He added: "But also we need to ensure there's the full end of all arms sales to Israel itself. And in that way, we might be able to end the genocide once and for all, and give support, proper support for the Palestinian state." In September, Miliband announced a series of measures, including a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements, sanctions on companies and individuals facilitating settlement expansion, and additional sanctions on extremist Israeli occupiers accused of supporting or inciting violence against Palestinians. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and wounded over 175,000 in Gaza. About 90% of the territory’s infrastructure has been destroyed.