Israel is considering expelling British officials from the US-led Gaza coordination centre as relations with Andy Burnham's Government deteriorate over planned British measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The Financial Times first reported that Israel was weighing the removal of British and possibly other European representatives from the centre. Reuters subsequently carried the report, while a source familiar with the discussions confirmed to The Times of Israel that British officials could be expelled and said that other measures against London were also under consideration.
No expulsion of British officials has yet been announced, and the proposal remains under consideration.
British officials could be removed from Gaza coordination centre
The centre, based in Kiryat Gat in southern Israel, was established under the US-backed framework for coordinating humanitarian, security and post-war planning for Gaza.
British officials are among the international representatives working there alongside personnel from the United States, Israel and other partner countries.
According to current reporting, Israeli officials are considering whether to remove the British delegation in response to London's increasingly confrontational stance over Israeli settlement policy.
The Times of Israel reported that a source familiar with the discussions confirmed the proposal and said more far-reaching measures were also being examined.
Dispute centres on E1 settlement expansion
The row follows the Israeli Government's decision to proceed with tenders for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband described the move as unacceptable and destructive and said Britain would set out a comprehensive package of measures in response.
The UK Government argues that E1 would damage the territorial continuity of a future Palestinian state and further undermine the prospects of a two-state solution.
Israel rejects international criticism of its settlement policy and maintains its own legal and historical claims in the territory.
Burnham Government considering tougher measures
British ministers are considering a series of measures targeting settlement activity, including further sanctions and restrictions on trade involving goods linked to Israeli settlements.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also joined international leaders in calling on Israel to retract the E1 plans and halt further settlement expansion.
The Government has not yet formally announced a final settlement trade ban, but the direction of policy has triggered an increasingly sharp response from the Israeli Government.
Israeli foreign minister warned Britain of response
The Times of Israel reported that Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told Miliband during a recent call that Israel would not allow punitive measures to be imposed on it without responding.
The possibility of removing British officials from the Gaza centre appears to form part of that potential response.
Israel has already expelled Dutch representatives from the same centre, citing what Sa'ar described as anti-Israel measures taken by the Netherlands, including its decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements.
That precedent makes the threat against British officials more significant, although no equivalent decision concerning the UK has yet been formally announced.
Reports differ over possible action against other countries
The Financial Times report suggested that officials from Germany and Italy could also potentially face removal.
However, Israeli sources cited by The Times of Israel disputed that element of the reporting and said Germany and Italy were not necessarily facing the same action.
The strongest verified position therefore concerns British officials, whose possible expulsion has been confirmed as under consideration by an Israeli source familiar with the matter.
UK-Israel relations under growing strain
The dispute marks a further deterioration in relations between London and Jerusalem under Burnham's administration.
Britain has stepped up criticism of settlement expansion and settler violence while preparing additional sanctions and trade measures.
Israel has accused the UK of adopting punitive and hostile policies and has warned that it will respond to actions it believes unfairly target the Israeli Government.
The disagreement now risks affecting practical British involvement in international efforts to coordinate humanitarian and post-war policy for Gaza.
No expulsion has yet taken place
Despite the seriousness of the proposal, British officials have not at this stage been formally expelled from the Gaza coordination centre.
There is also uncertainty over the legal and diplomatic process required to remove international representatives from the US-backed body.
Reports suggest that approval from the wider US-backed structure may be required, although Israeli officials argue that Israel retains authority over who is permitted to remain on its territory.
The immediate development is therefore that Israel is actively considering expelling British officials as part of a wider response to Burnham's settlement policy — not that an expulsion has already occurred.