London: British Trade Envoy Ian Austin's visit to Israel this week has drawn criticism following the UK's move to suspend free trade talks.

According to Anadolu Agency, on Monday, the British Embassy in Tel Aviv posted that Austin visited several sites at Haifa Port, 'witnessing UK-Israel cooperation at every stop.' This visit comes after the UK issued its strongest condemnation yet of Israeli attacks on Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The UK described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as 'abominable' and announced a formal pause to free trade negotiations with Israel.

Chris Doyle, a director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), expressed concern over the visit on X, questioning why the UK would send what he called an 'extremist trade envoy' to Israel at a time when the UK has halted talks on a new free trade deal.

The British government's sharp criticism of Israel's recent military escalation, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy labeling Israel's actions as 'dangerous, repellent and monstrous,' contrasts with the envoy's visit. Critics argue that this suggests little change in the bilateral relationship between the UK and Israel.

Sky News Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall remarked on the contrasting actions, noting that the UK government suspended free trade negotiations with Israel last week in protest of the war in Gaza, yet the UK's trade envoy is currently touring Israel, calling it 'slightly mixed messaging.'