Britain's Miliband Criticises Israel, Announces Sanctions on Illegal Settlements Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband vows to support a two‑state solution, cutting financial ties to illegal Israeli settlements and condemning the Gaza blockade and settlement expansion in Washington, London. Ed Miliband, Britain's foreign secretary, delivered a pointed critique of Israel's policies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank during a recent interview. He warned that the Israeli administration was alienating allies through its conduct in the region, citing the growing global mobilisation against what he described as 'settler terrorism' and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. In the interview, Miliband said that Britain's new sanctions target illegal Israeli settlements rather than the state itself. The measures were prompted by warnings from international bodies, including a 2024 decision by the International Court of Justice, that the two‑state solution is being eroded by on‑the‑ground realities. He highlighted the E1 settlement plan, which would carve out a corridor between East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as a red line that threatens the viability of a Palestinian state.Miliband explained that Britain could not stand idle while the displacement of Palestinians continued and that the country's policy is aimed at supporting a peaceful, two‑state outcome. Miliband also condemned Israel's blockade of Gaza, stating that it effectively leaves 70 percent of the enclave's hospital generators offline. He described the situation as a deliberate strategy and called the suffering of civilians "terrible." The foreign secretary drew on conversations with medical professionals who had worked on the ground, whose accounts of the crisis he characterised as unspeakable and appalling. He added that the so‑called ceasefire had failed to curtail violence, as 1,200 Palestinians had been killed since its inception. The British government's policy package, announced last week, includes a ban on imports from illegal settlements and sanctions against companies and individuals involved in settlement expansion.It also targets settlers accused of supporting or inciting violence. Miliband criticised Israel's decision to hold elections on October 27, suggesting that the international community must send a clear signal that continued occupation will not be tolerated. The statement, made in the House of Commons, reflects the UK's stance that a stable Middle East depends on a viable two‑state solution.Miliband's comments add to the growing pressure from international actors, including the United Nations and the European Union, calling for an end to settlement activity and increased humanitarian aid. Separate unrelated news from the same source noted an incident involving a naval collision between India and Pakistan, a helicopter crash that claimed three lives in Los Angeles, and U.S. senators requesting a report on violence in the West Bank and the deaths of Americans.These items do not pertain to Miliband's comments but were part of the broader coverage to which the text alluded