A petition signed by more than 4,000 people opposed to the Co-operative movement’s boycott of Israeli settlement products has been handed over to the company.

The Israel advocacy group We Believe collected 4,089 signatures after the Co-op adopted the stance in May.

The supermarket chain has refused to stock products from the settlements since 2009, but extended its policy and now bars engagement with any Israeli suppliers known to work with the settlements.

The company was also tackled on Twitter by JC health columnist Ellie Cannon this week.

Dr Cannon asked whether the company would stop trade with Syria in the light of its civil war, or implement measures against Saudi Arabia for its human- rights violations and “gender apartheid”.

But the Co-op said that neither Syria nor Saudi Arabia “meet the criteria for a ban” under its “ethical trading and human-rights” policy.