Iran and Hamas hail Andy Burnham's sanctions as step towards the 'end of Israel'

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By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 09:31 BST, 10 September 2026 | Updated: 15:46 BST, 10 September 2026

Andy Burnham's decision to impose sanctions on Israel has been hailed by the Iranian regime and Hamas. 

The measures announced by the PM and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband were branded a step towards the 'end of Israel' by Tehran. 

The jubilant response came after Britain was criticised for imposing a ban on trade with West Bank settlements. 

The measures, coordinated with France and Canada, were justified as a reaction to 'ethnic cleansing' and 'terrorism' by Israeli settlers. 

The Jewish state has responded by closing a British consulate in East Jerusalem and has banned 11 MPs from travelling to the country.

Israel also accused Labour ministers of being motivated by the need to woo Muslim voters. 

Andy Burnham said the UK would always stand against 'injustice' as he faced MPs after sparking a major row with domestic Jewish leaders and Benjamin Netanyahu's government

An Israeli settlement in the West Bank, which will be subject to UK sanctions 

To the relief of Mr Burnham, the response from Donald Trump has been muted 

Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said the sanctions amounted to 'gesture politics' and would 'further embolden those, at home and abroad, who use hatred as a weapon against Jews'.

There are also concerns about disrupting crucial counter-terrorism intelligence from Israel.

To the relief of Mr Burnham, the response from Donald Trump has been muted.

The shift in stance appears to have pleased terrorist group Hamas, which effectively runs Gaza.

Basem Naim, a spokesman for the terrorist group, was reported to have described the announcement as 'important steps in the right direction, but insufficient'.

The Iranian regime has also welcomed the sanctions.

According to the Jewish Chronicle, state radio in the Islamic Republic said: 'Ultimately, European countries, including Britain, have come to the conclusion that Israel has no future and that, as our martyred leader said, Israel will not survive the next two decades.

'Many political observers believe this is the beginning of the end of Israel... '

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The PM and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband have been facing a storm over the ban on trade with West Bank settlements

At PMQs yesterday, Mr Burnham said Britain was standing up for the 'underdog' Palestinians.

The Prime Minister said the UK would always stand against 'injustice' as he faced MPs the day after sparking a row with domestic Jewish leaders and Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

'Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice. Where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated, we will always stand with the underdog and take what action we can to support them,' he added.