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MOSCOW - The likely successor to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, former Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, threatened Israel with new sanctions over the expansion of illegal settlement activity and ceasefire violations in Gaza.
On Thursday, Burnham announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Labour Party. He noted that he is currently the only candidate. If Burnham faces no challengers, he could become prime minister by July 20.
"Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement, killing innocent Palestinians. We're seeing a surge in settler violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the continued expansion of illegal settlements displacing Palestinian communities … That's why we need to do more, which includes looking at further sanctions," Burnham said in a video posted on X on Thursday.
He added that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) continues to expand its presence in the Gaza Strip and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining the prospects for a two-state solution. Burnham also called for punishment of those responsible for war crimes committed during the Gaza war.
"I will do everything I can to work with international partners to stop the suffering, to ensure the Israeli government adheres to international law, and to keep the prospect of a two-state solution alive," Burnham noted.
The UK has already imposed sanctions on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as well as on radical settlers and organisations associated with them. - BERNAMA
