Workers removed signs and plaques at the British consulate in East Jerusalem overnight as Israel’s order to shut it down expires on Thursday.

Israel ordered Britain to close the consulate within 30 days on September 8, after London announced sanctions and a trade ban on goods from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The consulate in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood handles Britain’s relations with Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. About 30 British diplomats are affected.

Britain sent its national security adviser to Israel last week for talks, but no agreement was reached. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has insisted the consulate will close.

Britain is likely to expel a similar number of Israeli diplomats in retaliation, sources told Reuters. Israel has stopped short of expelling the British diplomats, saying they should work from the embassy in Tel Aviv instead.

The consulate in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood has handled Britain’s relations with Palestinians for about 200 years. About 30 British diplomats are affected by the closure order.