UK places sanctions on two Israeli ministers over ‘monstrous’ Gaza comments

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, Report informs via The Guardian.

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.

“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.”

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 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”.