The Co-op could stop selling Israeli products as soon as this summer after its members voted for a boycott.

Three-quarters of voters backed a motion urging the board to show “moral courage and leadership” by removing Israeli products from its shelves.

Responding to the result, the Co-op announced at its annual general meeting that the motion was advisory, but confirmed it was reviewing its sourcing policy.

Pressure group Palestine Solidarity Campaign said it showed Co-op members would not support Israel’s “apartheid economy”.

Co-op members demanded a cease to all trading with Israel in a motion put forward last month, saying it had “completely destroyed Gaza”.

It also said that Co-op had been the first supermarket to boycott Russian products in March 2022 and requested that it show the same “ethical principles and values” towards Israel.

UK Lawyers for Israel, a voluntary organisation of legal professionals, responded to the Co-op group secretary asking for it to be withdrawn.

It said: “A non-binding motion to take all Israeli products off the shelves of Co-op stores contains false and defamatory statements, promotes racial hatred of Israelis and Jews, and should be rejected under the Co-op’s rules.”

But the motion was allowed and members were invited to vote before the group’s annual general meeting on May 17.

The results showed it had passed with 73 per cent of voters in favour, compared to 27 per cent against.