UK’s double standards toward Israel amid Gaza tensions

The Guardian reported on Saturday, October 18, 2025, citing internal documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, that UK Foreign Office officials recommended supporting the trip of Lord Ian Austin, the government’s trade envoy, to Tel Aviv just days after the suspension of trade talks, in order to send a “reassuring message” to the Israeli business community.

The documents state that although the mission was conducted without formal ministerial approval, it proceeded in coordination with senior Foreign Office staff and included high-level business meetings.

According to The Guardian, the trip took place less than two weeks after then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of trade talks with Tel Aviv due to ongoing Israeli military attacks on Gaza and the blockade of humanitarian aid. During the visit, Austin met senior Israeli economic officials and attended an event hosted by the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, which was also attended by Israel’s Minister of Education.

The documents note that the goal of the mission was to “reassure Israeli business partners during a sensitive period.” This comes despite earlier statements by UK Foreign Office officials emphasizing that trade envoys do not engage in political discussions and that their trips are carried out under the authority of the Department for Business and Trade.

The Guardian reports that the level of contacts during the trip went beyond purely economic matters, including meetings with representatives of the defense company Rafael, whose name has been mentioned in connection with an attack that killed several foreign aid workers, including three British citizens, in Gaza. This has heightened media sensitivity regarding the timing and content of the visit.

The UK government has not yet provided an explanation for why the trip took place shortly after the suspension of trade talks. A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade told The Guardian that “trade envoys operate independently and carry out missions to support British commercial interests.” However, observers argue that this explanation does not resolve the contradiction in London’s official messaging regarding relations with Israel.

UK trade envoys, who are appointed honorarily by the government, typically operate under the supervision of the Department for Business and Trade, with a mandate to expand economic relations in countries where the UK has specific interests. Lord Ian Austin, a member of the House of Lords and former Labour Party supporter, was appointed as trade envoy to Israel on January 29, 2025.

Meanwhile, UK-Israel economic relations in recent months have been influenced by developments in Gaza and domestic public pressure. Following reports that British-made weapons were used in attacks on the Gaza Strip, the Starmer government suspended free trade talks with Tel Aviv on May 20, 2025, while simultaneously imposing sanctions on certain Israeli settlers.

Nevertheless, Austin’s visit to Tel Aviv and the administrative support provided by the Foreign Office demonstrate that economic and trade interactions between the two sides continue. British media have described this as a double standard, calling into question the credibility of London’s foreign policy.