Britain sanctions 2 Israeli ministers for ‘inciting extremist violence’ against Palestinians

LONDON — Britain will formally sanction two far-right Israeli ministers for their comments over Gaza, the U.K. confirmed Tuesday.

The assets of Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will be frozen and the pair will also face travel bans, the Times first reported. No financial institutions will be allowed to deal with them.

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the ministers had “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights.” He added: “These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now — to hold those responsible to account.”

In response, Israel said: “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the Cabinet would meet next week to respond to what he called the “unacceptable decision.”

While the U.S. has continued to stand resolutely behind Israel as it wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, other longtime allies — including the EU, Britain and Canada — have grown increasingly critical of Israel and its military tactics.

Israel launched its military assault on Gaza in response for the Hamas militant group’s violent attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,000 Israelis. The death toll in Gaza has now surpassed 50,000 people, according to Gazan health officials, as Israel’s offensive continues.

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have consistently been the most hard-line ministers in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and are crucial allies keeping him in power.

Ben-Gvir briefly resigned from Netanyahu’s Cabinet in January during the short ceasefire, before rejoining in March when fighting resumed. He said the resumption of aid deliveries into Gaza was a “serious and grave mistake.”

Smotrich has approved the expansion of West Bank settlements and said that “not even a grain of wheat” should be allowed into Gaza. He also said Palestinians would be relocated to third countries after the war.

The U.K. has been working on the new sanctions for weeks, as France’s push for recognition of Palestinian statehood hit a wall. Several Arab nations have been pushing for Western countries to focus their efforts on economic measures.

British lawmakers who have been calling on the government to recognize Palestinian statehood were told that sanctions would take priority, two Labour MPs granted anonymity to speak candidly told POLITICO.

Keir Starmer told MPs last week the U.K. was “looking at further action, along with our allies, including sanctions” while French President Emmanuel Macron gave similar indications.

Last month, Starmer, Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a joint statement decrying the “intolerable” humanitarian situation in the besieged coastal enclave.

“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response,” they added.

Lammy earlier told the Commons the comments of ministers were “monstrous” for calling for the relocation of Gazans.

He added: “We must call this what it is. It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”