Over 100 former French, British ambassadors call for sanctions on Israel for 'ethnic cleansing'

"The world no longer sees Israel as a genuine democracy – there is nothing democratic about depriving others of their rights and land," an open letter from the ambassadors read.Follow us on GoogleIsraeli settlement structures being installed near the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, in the West Bank, August 10, 2026(photo credit: REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)ByDANYA SAPERSTEINAUGUST 23, 2026 18:22Updated: AUGUST 23, 2026 18:25Over 100 former French and British ambassadors called on France and the United Kingdom to "uphold international law in Palestine" and impose sanctions on Israel for its actions in Gaza and the West Bank in an open letter published on Sunday in Le Monde. The letter stated that both countries had an obligation to uphold their 2025 recognition of the State of Palestine by taking action against the Israeli government's actions to destroy any prospect of an independent Palestinian state in violation of the rulings of the International Court of Justice and multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions."Hamas committed heinous crimes on October 7, 2023, but nothing justifies Israel's systematic policy of destruction of Gaza and its population," the letter read, calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stances on Israel's defense "morally wrong and counterproductive.""As a result, the world no longer sees Israel as a genuine democracy – there is nothing democratic about depriving others of their rights and land," it continued.Letter calls settler violence ethnic cleansingThe letter also accused Israel of ethnic cleansing, referring to the settler violence and demolitions taking place "with the connivance of the Israeli army and police." The E1 territory, located outside of Jerusalem and within the jurisdiction of the Ma'aleh Adumim settlement (credit: TOVAH LAZAROFF)The letter called upon Palestinians to ensure that the State of Palestine is democratic and law-abiding, "despite the occupation," and called the current political leadership "unrepresentative and dysfunctional.""The elections in November must lead to democratic renewal," the letter said, but specified that while France and the UK could be doing much to help Palestine be a fully functioning democracy, "our focus needs to be on Israel's determination to prevent that outcome." The ambassadors recommended that the two countries suspend trade agreements with Israel and suspend arms transfers to and from Israel, as well as all bilateral military cooperation.The countries were also called upon to insist on unrestricted aid access to Gaza, led by UNRWA, other UN agencies and international NGOs as well as access for journalists, diplomats, and parliamentarians.Additionally, the letter recommended that all trade with settlements, "including goods, investment, insurance and other financial services," be banned; that potential bidders for the E1 residential property project in the West Bank be warned that their interests in UK and France would sufffer; and to make it an offense for French and British citizens to buy property on "stolen Palestinian land" and to remove charitable status from charities funding settlements.Countries previously condemned E1 projectThis comes days after France, Germany, Britain and Italy condemned plans by Israel to open up construction tenders for E1."The decision by the Israeli government to publish bid offers for construction projects within the framework of the E1 settlers' project is unacceptable," said a joint statement by the leaders of those four countries.The UK will prepare targeted sanctions against people involved in Israeli settlement expansion and other measures in response to the E1 project east of Jerusalem, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Wednesday.The British government has already announced that it will introduce a broader package of measures in the coming weeks.Follow us on Google