UK Sanctions Two Far-Right Israeli Ministers Over Gaza Comments
The UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway jointly sanctioned Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians and undermining Israel’s security. The sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, target the ministers’ inflammatory rhetoric and actions related to the occupied West Bank, marking a departure from US policy. This action comes amidst growing international condemnation of Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza, with the allies citing the ministers’ incitement of extremist violence and human rights abuses as justification. The sanctioned ministers defiantly rejected the penalties.
John Q. Hosedrinker