The UK government has introduced a statutory instrument that broadens its global human rights and international humanitarian law sanctions regime, enabling authorities to take action against individuals and entities that support illegal Israeli settlements, obstruct humanitarian aid, or unlawfully detain people.
Under the change, three new grounds are added to the 2020 sanctions framework: serious violations of international humanitarian law, obstruction of humanitarian assistance, and serious violations of the right to liberty and security of person. The amendments give ministers the legal basis to designate and impose measures such as asset freezes on those judged to be responsible for, or complicit in, such conduct.
The government said the revisions extend the reach of existing commitments on human rights and international humanitarian law, allowing sanctions to be applied not only to direct perpetrators but also to enablers and facilitators of unlawful activity. That can include entities that provide support, logistical assistance or other forms of enabling activity linked to settlements, interference with aid deliveries or unlawful imprisonment.
The instrument builds on the UK’s 2020 global human rights sanctions framework and is presented as a tool to uphold international obligations. It does not, in itself, list specific individuals or organisations for designation; rather, it establishes the legal grounds for future listings and measures in response to identified violations.
Legal and diplomatic implementation of the expanded powers will depend on subsequent designations and enforcement by relevant UK authorities. The government has framed the move as part of wider efforts to ensure accountability for breaches of international humanitarian law and to protect humanitarian access and personal liberty in conflict-affected settings.