Andy Burnham's decision to impose sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlements has been praised by Iran's state media and Hamas, who framed it as a sign that Britain and Europe now believe Israel has no long-term future. The remarks have added to the pressure on the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, whose sanctions have already provoked a fierce backlash from Israel and from British Jewish community leaders, complicating the UK's diplomatic standing and raising fears over intelligence cooperation with Israel.

The UK measures, coordinated with France and Canada, banned trade with West Bank settlements and were justified as a response to alleged "ethnic cleansing" and settler violence. Israel retaliated by closing its consulate in East Jerusalem and barring 11 MPs from entry, accusing Labour of pandering to Muslim voters, while Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis condemned the move as "gesture politics" that could embolden antisemitism. Hamas spokesman Basem Naim called the sanctions "insufficient" but a step in the right direction, and Iranian state radio said Israel would not survive another two decades. Burnham told MPs at PMQs that Britain would "stand with the underdog" against injustice, while Donald Trump's response has so far been notably muted.