The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway announced on Tuesday that they have imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers, accusing them of “inciting extremist violence” against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The move marks a rare and significant condemnation from Israel’s close allies, sharply criticizing its settlement expansion policies and the surge in settler violence since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
The sanctions target National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—key figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. Both are vocal advocates of expanding Israeli settlements, continuing the war in Gaza, and promoting the so-called “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians, along with plans to re-establish Jewish settlements in the enclave.
As a result of the sanctions, the ministers could now face travel bans and asset freezes.
In a joint statement, the five countries’ foreign ministers accused the two Israeli officials of encouraging extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians. They condemned inflammatory rhetoric supporting the forced displacement of Palestinians and the construction of additional settlements as “appalling and dangerous.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the ministers have been inciting violence against Palestinians for months, calling out their role in enabling human rights abuses. Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand stressed that the sanctions target individuals responsible for inciting violence, not the state of Israel.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have “deliberately undermined” peace and security while promoting forced displacement and violence. He clarified that the measures were not directed at the Israeli people or the broader government, acknowledging the suffering endured since the October 7 attacks.
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Smotrich responded to the announcement on social media while inaugurating a new West Bank settlement, vowing to continue expansion efforts. Ben-Gvir also took to social media, referencing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and writing, “we overcame Pharaoh, we’ll overcome Starmer’s wall.”
Israel's government strongly criticized the sanctions. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the move “outrageous” and said he would meet Prime Minister Netanyahu next week to discuss a response. Saar warned that the sanctions could embolden Hamas and disrupt ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Centrist opposition leader Benny Gantz, while disagreeing with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich’s views, also criticized the sanctions as a “profound moral mistake” that could send a dangerous signal to militant groups.
Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, has rejected the accusations, calling the court biased. Meanwhile, the Biden administration has also taken steps to sanction radical Israeli settlers—measures that had been previously reversed under former President Donald Trump.
Israeli human rights lawyer Eitay Mack, who had long advocated for sanctions against West Bank settlers and officials, described the latest action as “historic,” saying it breaks a longstanding wall of immunity for Israeli politicians. He noted that this could signal further accountability, potentially even for Netanyahu.
Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for a future independent state. Settlement activity has accelerated under Netanyahu’s far-right government, with settlers holding key Cabinet roles.
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Currently, over 500,000 Israelis live in more than 100 West Bank settlements. These settlers are Israeli citizens, while the territory’s 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military control, with limited autonomy through the Palestinian Authority.
Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and sees them as a major barrier to achieving a two-state solution — still viewed globally as the most viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Source: With inputs from agency