Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway on Tuesday said that they have imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli government ministers for allegedly “inciting extremist violence” against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich face asset freezes and travel bans. They are champions of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to AP.
Settler violence there has spiked since the start of the war in Gaza, where the ministers have been the most vocal in support of hardline policies.
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The five countries’ foreign ministers said that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights."
Meanwhile, Israel said it has been informed that the United Kingdom will sanction two of its Cabinet ministers. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar did not provide their names in public remarks.
It appears the sanctions will target Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, two far-right champions of Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich both acknowledged the sanctions on social media, and Smotrich confirmed he was a target.