Britain renames East Jerusalem consulate as Israeli closure deadline expires

A "Save Sheikh Jarrah" banner on the walls of the East Jerusalem neighbourhood, where the British mission is located, in May 2021. Photograph: Osps7 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Britain has taken down the signs at its consulate-general in East Jerusalem and renamed it the UK Mission, Jerusalem, as an Israeli order to close the mission expired, while insisting that Israel has no legal right to shut it.

Workers removed the "British Consulate General" plaque from the building in Sheikh Jarrah overnight on Wednesday, though the Union flag was still flying, Reuters reported. The consul general and about 20 diplomats are leaving, with seven allowed by Israel to remain for a "very limited" scope of activity, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: "We do not accept that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem."

"The UK government reiterates its long-standing view that East Jerusalem is occupied territory," it said, adding that the building "will not be closing" and would remain British government property. The UK said it had temporarily withdrawn some staff and their families, would rebuild its presence in the coming months, and would take no reciprocal action while talks with Israel were "underway and credible".

Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar ordered the closure in September, giving Britain 30 days, after the UK, France and Canada announced sanctions on Israeli settlements, including a ban on settlement goods. Israel also removed British officials from the Gaza aid coordination centre at Kiryat Gat, ended British training of Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank and barred 12 British elected officials from entering the country.

The mission, which has been in Jerusalem since 1839, represents the UK government in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza and works with Palestinian institutions. Britain recognised the State of Palestine in September 2025.

Israel holds a general election on 27 October, in which its Supreme Court has pushed a Palestinian party leader out of the race.

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