Israeli ministers have called for new sanctions to be imposed on the UK for what they describe as its ‘occupation’ of the Falkland Islands.

The new tension comes hours after it was revealed that Andy Burnham is expected to impose a trade ban on illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir said: ‘I call upon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognise Argentina’s sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and to impose sanctions on Great Britain as long as the occupation continues.’

Mr Gvir and fellow minister Bezalel Smotrich also suggested the British ambassador to Israel should be ‘expelled’.

Mr Gvir continued: ‘It’s time for the state of Israel to publicly recognise that the Malvinas Islands [the Argentine name for the Falkland Islands] are Argentine territory under occupation, which the British violently steal from the Argentine people.

‘The British are not content with merely occupying the territory; they also carry out oil drilling there and steal the money from the Argentine people.’

This is despite a 2013 referendum in which the Falkland Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British overseas territory, with 99.8% voting in favour and just three votes against.

But last week, Argentine President Javier Milei said: ‘I want to be quite clear with everybody. The Falklands are Argentinian. Historically and legally. There can be no argument. They are part of the Argentine territory.

‘The islanders on their usurped territory do not have a legitimate right to self-determination, and any argument on any such self-determination is invalid.’

The comments appear to be in response to the UK’s planned sanctions targeting Israel’s illegal annexation of the West Bank.

Although nominally governed by Palestinians, much of what is formally part of the West Bank is under Israeli control, with military checkpoints and segregated roads.

The Palestinian Authority controls just 17% of the West Bank, although this accounts for most of the area’s Palestinian population.

The Israeli settlements, which break international law, have gradually encroached on Palestinian territory and carved gaps between Palestinian cities, towns and villages.

Once opposed by Israel’s governments, the settlements have since received backing and military protection from Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.

Daniella Weiss, often referred to as the ‘godmother’ of Israel’s settler movement, is among several people sanctioned by the UK  over inciting or carrying out violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

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