This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/10/uk-and-allies-sanction-two-far-right-israeli-ministers-itamar-ben-gvir-bezalel-smotrich-over-monstrous-gaza-comments

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
UK places sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers over ‘monstrous’ Gaza comments UK places sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers for inciting West Bank violence
(about 2 hours later)
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face travel bans and asset freezes as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway also impose measuresItamar 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 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, largely for inciting violence against Palestinians in their campaign 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 any assets in the five countries frozen. It was stressed that they were being sanctioned in their personal capacity, placing no restrictions on the ministries they lead. Netanyahu has promised to retaliate.
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. In a carefully prepared move, for which Israel had little advance notice, 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.
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. “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. “Today’s measures focus on the West Bank, but of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid. There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.”
The US is not expected to be party to the move. The previous UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, said he had planned to take the move against the two ministers last summer, but held back when he was told the decision was too political to take during an election campaign.
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”. By building an alliance of five countries, the UK may hope to protect itself from being the sole subject of Israeli and US anger. It may also be intended to stress Israel’s growing international isolation, but that will not disturb Israel as long as it has the protection of the White House.
“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 EU requires unanimity among its 27 states to take parallel action, and would face resistance from Hungary. It is instead looking at possible trade restrictions that only require a qualified majority of EU states to approve them. Pressure has been building for concrete action in Canada, Norway and Australia.
The Foreign Office said the sanctions were for the men’s repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians, effective immediately. Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, described the UK decision as unacceptable and said it was “outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures”.
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. Smotrich said: “Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we will not allow it to do so again.”
“The measures announced by international partners today demonstrate the commitment to ensure individuals are held accountable for encouraging and inciting human rights abuses.” Ben-Gvir said: “We passed Pharaoh, we will also pass Starmer’s wall.”
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. The former defence minister Benny Gantz said: “I vehemently disagree with ministers Smotrich & Ben Gvir on a wide range of issues - but the imposition of British sanctions on ministers in the one and only democracy in the Middle East, the State of Israel, is a profound moral mistake and sends a dangerous message to terrorists.”
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. The Foreign Office said the sanctions were primarily for the men’s incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians, and that ministers had repeatedly made clear to the Netanyahu government in public and private 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.
Sign up to First EditionSign up to First Edition
Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it mattersOur morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters
after newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
Lammy said: “These two individuals have been inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months.”
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, he 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 called for the voluntary departure of Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
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.
The former Conservative Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said he fully understood why the government had imposed the sanctions. The Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Emily Thornberry, welcomed the move, but said it must not be a substitute for any plans to recognise a Palestinian state.
Labour Friends of Israel said: “By their words and deeds Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s actions in government have given succour to those who perpetrate disgraceful and utterly unacceptable violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.”