Jerusalem, 8 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The British Consulate General in Jerusalem stopped operating under its previous name on Thursday, in a dispute over whether the diplomatic mission had closed or had simply been reorganized under a new name.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the consulate had ceased operations and that its consul general and 20 diplomats would leave Israel. Britain disputed that characterization, saying the building would remain operational as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with a reduced staff.

The dispute is the latest development in deteriorating relations between Israel and Britain, following a series of measures by Britain’s Labour government that Jerusalem has described as anti-Israel.

“The British Consulate in Jerusalem is ceasing operations today; accordingly, the British Consulate sign in Jerusalem has been removed,” Sa’ar said.

Sa’ar said the consul general and 20 diplomats would end their assignments and leave Israel. Under understandings reached between the two governments, Britain will nevertheless be allowed to operate a seven-diplomat task force from the building, which is owned by the British government. The task force will have a “very limited scope of activity,” he said.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband rejected Israel’s characterization of the change and disputed its legal authority to close the consulate.

“We have been clear that we do not accept that the Government of Israel has the legal right to close the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, which has been there for nearly 200 years,” Miliband said.

“Following discussions with the Government of Israel, our Consulate General building will not be closing, and will be known as the UK Mission, Jerusalem from today,” he added.

Miliband said the mission would remain operational and continue providing consular services. Britain has temporarily withdrawn some staff and their families for security reasons and plans to rebuild its presence in the coming months.

The dispute follows a series of measures taken by Britain against Israel since Labour took office in July 2024.

Sa’ar cited Britain’s recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025, renewed funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the suspension of defense export licenses to Israel, sanctions against Israeli ministers and other Israelis, the suspension of free-trade negotiations, restrictions on Israel’s participation in a British defense exhibition and the freezing of military and security cooperation.

London also recently announced plans to boycott products from Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights and eastern Jerusalem.

Israel responded by expelling British representatives from an international aid center for Gaza in Kiryat Gat, ending British training activities for Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria, and barring 12 British lawmakers and other citizens from entering Israel.

Sa’ar emphasized that security and intelligence cooperation between Israel and Britain would continue.

“We seek good relations with all nations,” Sa’ar said. “However, any country that acts against Israel must know there will be a price to pay.”