UK announces ban on dealings with Israeli settlements, prompting Israeli retaliation; US declines to join.

The United Kingdom declared a ban on dealings with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, citing "ethnic cleansing" by "settler terrorists," with France and Canada expected to follow. In response, Israel announced the closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem and the expulsion of British representatives from a Gaza support center. The United States, however, stated it would not join the UK's sanctions. This development signifies a significant diplomatic escalation and divergence among Western allies regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with potential implications for regional stability and international trade relations.