Britain has announced sanctions against two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, due to their controversial statements and actions related to the ongoing war in Gaza.
The UK will impose asset freezes and travel bans on Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister and a West Bank settler, and Smotrich, the finance minister.
This move aligns Britain with Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other nations in condemning the ministers’ conduct, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic efforts to address the crisis in Gaza.
The sanctions reflect Britain’s growing pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to lift the blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza, where experts warn of an imminent famine.
In May, the UK suspended free trade talks with Israel, citing “egregious policies” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been vocal, stating, “We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict. Netanyahu’s government is planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner of the Strip to the south and permit them a fraction of the aid that they need.”
Lammy also condemned Smotrich’s remarks, noting, “Yesterday, minister Smotrich even spoke of Israeli forces cleansing Gaza, destroying what’s left of residents, Palestinians being relocated, he said, to third countries.”
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, called the UK’s decision “outrageous,” declaring, “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.”
Saar revealed discussions with Netanyahu, stating, “I discussed it earlier today with PM [Benjamin] Netanyahu, and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.”
The UK’s stance diverges from the US position, aligning instead with other allies, as Britain intensifies efforts to address what Lammy described as an “affront to the values of British people.”