The Israeli regime has decided to close the British consulate serving Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem in response to trade measures announced by the UK and other countries targeting goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced the decision after the UK, France and other countries moved to impose restrictions on trade with goods produced in Israeli settlements.

Saar said British representatives would also be removed from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, which was established to monitor the Gaza ceasefire.

The Israeli regime will also suspend British activities aimed at training Palestinian Authority security forces in the occupied West Bank, Saar said.

In addition, Israel will bar 12 British citizens, most of them members of parliament, from entering the country over allegations that they were involved in what Saar described as anti-Israel activities.

The measures come amid growing tensions between Israel and the UK over Israeli settlement expansion, the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the war in Gaza.

The British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem has traditionally handled diplomatic and consular affairs relating to the Palestinians and the occupied Palestinian territories.(ILKHA)