UK: Labour minister tells local councils they could be sued for boycotting Israel

A senior British minister has warned Labour-administered local councils that they could be sued for boycotting Israeli businesses. The threat from Communities Secretary Steve Reed follows several local authorities voting to boycott companies complicit in Israeli war crimes or benefiting from the occupation of Palestinian territory. These actions are part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to non-violently pressure Israel. Reed pointed to the Procurement Act 2023, stating councils could be sued for damages by suppliers who lose money from such boycotts.