Corbyn Pushes Beyond UK Settlement Ban to Demand Arms Embargo

The UK government’s recent decision to restrict trade with illegal Israeli settlements has drawn a mixed response from political critics. While Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband secured support from several international counterparts to curb economic ties to the West Bank, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn dismissed the measures as insufficient. In a direct appeal to the Prime Minister, Corbyn highlighted the death toll in Gaza—estimated at 73,000—and demanded an immediate end to all military cooperation and arms sales to Israel.

Corbyn’s critique centers on the government’s refusal to label the military campaign as genocide, a term he insists is grounded in international law rather than political rhetoric. His call for a public inquiry into UK complicity coincides with a broader push from organizations like Amnesty International, which views the trade shift as a potential turning point toward accountability. However, the Israeli government responded to these developments by barring entry to a dozen prominent figures, including Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, and several other members of Parliament and the Green Party. For these activists, the sanctions represent only the preliminary stage of a necessary, larger effort to enforce legal obligations regarding human rights and the occupation.