The British government says it is suspending free trade negotiations with Israel and has levelled new sanctions targeting West Bank settlements as it criticises Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Tuesday’s actions came a day after the UK, France and Canada condemned Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the occupied West Bank.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK’s existing trade agreement is in effect, but the government cannot continue discussions with an Israeli government pursuing what he called egregious policies in the West Bank and Gaza.

Lammy said the persistent cycle of violence by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank demanded action.

“The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions,” Lammy said. “Their consistent failure to act is putting Palestinian communities and the two-state solution in peril.”

The announcement came after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ramped up his criticism of Israel on Tuesday, saying the level of suffering by children in Gaza was “utterly intolerable” and repeated his call for a ceasefire.