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| UK places sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers over ‘monstrous’ Gaza comments | UK places sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers over ‘monstrous’ Gaza comments |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face travel bans and asset freezes as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway also impose measures | |
| Middle East crisis – latest updates | Middle East crisis – latest updates |
| The UK has been joined by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing sanctions on two Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, over their “monstrous” comments about Gaza, including plans to destroy the territory and use violence to gain control of new settlements in the West Bank. | The UK has been joined by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing sanctions on two Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, over their “monstrous” comments about Gaza, including plans to destroy the territory and use violence to gain control of new settlements in the West Bank. |
| Ben-Gvir, the security minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, and Smotrich, the finance minister, will face travel bans and have their assets frozen. | Ben-Gvir, the security minister in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, and Smotrich, the finance minister, will face travel bans and have their assets frozen. |
| The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway said in a joint statement: “We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution and will continue to work with our partners towards its implementation. It is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion. | The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway said in a joint statement: “We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution and will continue to work with our partners towards its implementation. It is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion. |
| “Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account. | “Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account. |
| “We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.” | “We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.” |
| The move comes as the UK and other western countries seek to increase pressure on Israel’s government over the war in Gaza. | The move comes as the UK and other western countries seek to increase pressure on Israel’s government over the war in Gaza. |
| The US is not expected to be party to the move. | The US is not expected to be party to the move. |
| The Israeli government said it had been informed at lunchtime on Tuesday. Israel’s foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said it was “outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures”. | The Israeli government said it had been informed at lunchtime on Tuesday. Israel’s foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said it was “outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures”. |
| “I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision,” he said. | “I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision,” he said. |
| The Foreign Office said the sanctions were for the men’s repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians, effective immediately. | The Foreign Office said the sanctions were for the men’s repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians, effective immediately. |
| It said in a statement: “The UK has made clear in public and private to the Netanyahu government that Israel must cease expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state, clamp down on settler violence, and condemn inflammatory and extremist statements from both individuals. | It said in a statement: “The UK has made clear in public and private to the Netanyahu government that Israel must cease expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state, clamp down on settler violence, and condemn inflammatory and extremist statements from both individuals. |
| “The measures announced by international partners today demonstrate the commitment to ensure individuals are held accountable for encouraging and inciting human rights abuses.” | “The measures announced by international partners today demonstrate the commitment to ensure individuals are held accountable for encouraging and inciting human rights abuses.” |
| Sanctions announcements are typically kept under wraps on the basis that advance warning gives those targeted the chance to remove their assets from the relevant jurisdiction. | Sanctions announcements are typically kept under wraps on the basis that advance warning gives those targeted the chance to remove their assets from the relevant jurisdiction. |
| UK ministers have had the option of imposing sanctions on the two ministers for more than a year, and only a fortnight ago decided to hold back after needing more work to secure international support for the move. | UK ministers have had the option of imposing sanctions on the two ministers for more than a year, and only a fortnight ago decided to hold back after needing more work to secure international support for the move. |
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| Smotrich has approved the expansion of West Bank settlements and campaigned against humanitarian aid in Gaza, saying in May that he would allow “not even a grain of wheat” to enter the war zone. | Smotrich has approved the expansion of West Bank settlements and campaigned against humanitarian aid in Gaza, saying in May that he would allow “not even a grain of wheat” to enter the war zone. |
| He said on 6 May that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to … the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries”. | He said on 6 May that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to … the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries”. |
| In remarks condemned by Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies, Smotrich said last year that the potential deaths of 2 million Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip from hunger may be justifiable. | In remarks condemned by Germany, one of Israel’s closest allies, Smotrich said last year that the potential deaths of 2 million Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip from hunger may be justifiable. |
| “We can’t, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned,” he told a conference hosted by the Israel Hayom newspaper. | “We can’t, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned,” he told a conference hosted by the Israel Hayom newspaper. |
| Ben-Gvir stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on 26 May and has called for the Muslim world’s third-holiest site to be replaced with a synagogue. He has also repeatedly called for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. “We must encourage emigration, encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza,” he said last year. | Ben-Gvir stormed the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on 26 May and has called for the Muslim world’s third-holiest site to be replaced with a synagogue. He has also repeatedly called for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. “We must encourage emigration, encourage the voluntary emigration of the residents of Gaza,” he said last year. |
| Lammy described Smotrich’s comments as monstrous and repellant in the Commons a fortnight ago, but he held back from placing sanctions on the two men. He imposed sanctions on a small group of settlers and announced there would be no further talks on an expanded trade deal with Israel. | Lammy described Smotrich’s comments as monstrous and repellant in the Commons a fortnight ago, but he held back from placing sanctions on the two men. He imposed sanctions on a small group of settlers and announced there would be no further talks on an expanded trade deal with Israel. |