UK, 4 Nations Sanction 2 Israeli Ministers Over Palestinian Violence

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Kingdom and four other countries have imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers over what they describe as“repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities”.

According to a BBC report, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been banned from entering the UK and will have any UK-based assets frozen, the British Foreign Secretary announced.

The sanctions are part of a coordinated move by the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, unveiled on Tuesday.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said both ministers had“incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the sanctions, stating on X:“These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.”

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have drawn international criticism for their hardline stances on the Gaza conflict. Both oppose allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and have called for the resettlement of Palestinians outside the territory.

In a statement, the UK Foreign Office said:“As Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to suffer from severe acts of violence by extremist Israeli settlers, which also undermine the prospects for a future Palestinian state, the UK has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway in stepping up the international response.”

Following the announcement, Lammy added:“These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now-to hold those responsible to account. We will continue to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas-which can have no role in the future governance of Gaza-a surge in humanitarian aid, and a path toward a two-state solution.”

Reacting to the move, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the Israeli cabinet would convene next week to respond to what he described as an“unacceptable decision.”

The Foreign Office also emphasized that the five nations are“clear that the rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank must stop.”

It added that the sanctions against the two ministers“cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza, where Israel must uphold international humanitarian law.”

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