Israel is closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem on Thursday, marking a further escalation in tensions with the United Kingdom. The move comes in response to British measures targeting trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel would stand by its decision despite British efforts to reach an agreement that would prevent the closure, The Times reported.
The consulate’s diplomatic status is being revoked, affecting around 30 British diplomats and their families. The diplomats are not expected to be expelled and may continue their work from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
The British consulate in East Jerusalem provides consular services to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and handles Britain’s relations with Palestinians in the city, the West Bank and Gaza.
Meanwhile, 11 people were arrested during pro-Palestinian protests in Britain on Wednesday.
Five people were arrested near the offices of the Board of Deputies of British Jews on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, after protesters allegedly shouted or chanted slogans calling for “intifada.”
Six others were arrested during a pro-Palestinian student march and a counter-protest. Police said some were detained for allegedly breaching protest conditions, while another person was arrested on suspicion of common assault.
The Metropolitan Police imposed strict conditions on the march, including restrictions on face coverings, but did not prevent the protest from taking place.
Protests on Anniversary of October 7 Attack
Hundreds of students took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in cities across Britain on the third anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.
In central London, around 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in support of Palestinians. Protesters carried banners criticizing Israel and supporting a boycott.
Near Russell Square, demonstrators encountered counter-protesters carrying Israeli flags and chanting against the pro-Palestinian protesters. Police intervened several times to prevent confrontations between the two groups.
Protests were also held at universities in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, while hundreds took part in a march in Manchester.
Jewish Leaders Condemn Protests
Raphie Leon, president of the Union of Jewish Students, described the October 7 protests as provocative and called for them to be condemned.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the demonstrations as “shameful” and said Jewish students should not have to face the situation alone.
The five arrests near the offices of the Board of Deputies of British Jews were linked to calls for “intifada,” an Arabic term generally meaning uprising. Police said the arrests were made on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.
Meanwhile, British authorities have reported a rise in antisemitic incidents. According to the Community Security Trust, 1,926 antisemitic incidents were recorded in Britain between January and June 2026, around 20% more than during the same period last year.
At the same time, Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry says that more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed during the three years of war. The figure is provided by the ministry and is not independently verified.
