More than 80 former British diplomats, including 60 ambassadors and high commissioners, have called on the United Kingdom and its allies to take stronger measures against Israel’s settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. In a letter published Friday in the Financial Times, they warned that current policies are encouraging territorial annexation and undermining international law.

The diplomats argued that Israel’s expansionist activities in the occupied Palestinian territories amount to accelerating the occupation process. They said Israel is violating both the EU–Israel Association Agreement and the UK–Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, which require respect for human rights and democratic principles. The letter cited growing settlements, discrimination against Palestinians, and what it described as state-backed settler violence as evidence of these breaches.

The signatories urged the EU to suspend its cooperation agreements with Israel, ban trade with settlements, halt arms transfers, and limit Israel’s participation in EU programs. They also called on the UK to ban all trade with settlements and review its agreements with Israel, stressing that condemnation alone is insufficient and urging the government to take effective action.