UK reportedly threatens to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel closes Britain's Jerusalem consulate

The United Kingdom has reportedly warned Israel that it intends to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if the Jewish state closes the British consulate in East Jerusalem, according to a Ynet News report that has not been independently confirmed.

British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters informed Israeli officials that London would expel one Israeli diplomat for every diplomat forced to leave Jerusalem, according to a Monday report. There are reportedly 27 diplomats currently working at the consulate in Jerusalem, which handles diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. The British Embassy in Israel is located in Tel Aviv.

Relations between London and Jerusalem have deteriorated sharply in recent months. Last month, the UK government announced a boycott against products from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, internationally known as the West Bank. The UK considers Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria to be illegal settlements on occupied territory. Israel rejects that position and maintains that the territory’s final status remains disputed.

The Israeli government condemned the British decision as discriminatory. At the time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel's response would be to close the British consulate in Jerusalem.

“A boycott of goods from Judea and Samaria is a despicable practice that harms hard-working, law-abiding citizens. The Labour Government has decided to employ this practice of boycotts and BDS only against the Jewish state,” Sa’ar said. He stressed that the decision to close the consulate would be implemented within 30 days – a deadline which reportedly takes effect on Oct. 8.

Neither the British Embassy in Tel Aviv nor the Israeli Foreign Ministry has officially responded to the Ynet report.

An Israeli diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, sought to downplay the report.

“There is no reason for us to respond to speculation regarding decisions that other countries may or may not make in the future. We have already demonstrated that any step taken against Israel will be met with an appropriate response, and that will continue to be the case in the future,” the source said on Monday.

Unnamed sources cited by Ynet reportedly said Britain was surprised and shocked by Israel’s response to the sanctions against Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. The UK was reportedly particularly surprised by the 30-day notice for closing the consulate in East Jerusalem.

The dispute comes amid broader tensions between the Labour government and Israel. The UK government has also been sharply critical of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza and has increasingly blamed Israel for the destruction in the Strip. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly pointed to Hamas’ systematic embedding of military infrastructure and forces within civilian areas, including its use of civilians as human shields, in violation of international law.

Last week, Britain dispatched its National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell to Israel in an effort to prevent the closure of the UK consulate, Reuters reported, citing three sources. However, the sources said Powell and Israeli officials failed to reach an agreement that would allow the consulate to remain open and expressed pessimism that a deal could be reached Oct. 8.

Meanwhile, the potential expulsion of 27 Israeli diplomats from London would significantly reduce the Israeli embassy’s diplomatic staff. The embassy has also been without an ambassador since Tzipi Hotovely’s term ended in September 2025.