British diplomats have been given seven days to leave Israel. The deadline covers diplomats serving in Ramallah and British representatives at the Gaza Coordination Center.
The British Consulate in occupied East Jerusalem has also been asked to cease operations within 30 days. The decision followed Britain's move to restrict trade in products made in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
12 countries announce West Bank decision
The foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom jointly announced in a written statement that they would restrict trade in goods produced in Israeli settlements.
The statement said Israel's actions in the West Bank were undermining the two-state solution and that the situation was deteriorating. It also highlighted violence by Israelis who had seized Palestinian land and stressed the need to preserve the prospect of a two-state solution.
In response to these trade restrictions, Israel decided to close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem serving the Palestinians.