Israel on Thursday ordered the British Consulate in occupied East Jerusalem to be closed.
The consul general and 19 other diplomats are set to depart the post.
But British foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, says the consulate will continue operations on a smaller scale and be known as a UK mission.
Earlier on Thursday, journalists from the Reuters news agency saw workers remove a plaque reading “British Consulate General” from the building, as well as another sign for its consular section.
The UK flag was still flying over the building.
Israel’s decision follows the U.K.’s recent ban on trade from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.
