- The UK imposed sanctions on Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for inciting violence against Palestinians, including asset freezes and travel bans.
- Smotrich justified starving Gaza civilians, while Ben-Gvir praised violent settlers as «heroes,» drawing global condemnation.
- Foreign Secretary Lammy condemned their actions as unacceptable, aligning with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway.
- Israel called the sanctions «outrageous,» while the U.S. criticized them as counterproductive to ceasefire efforts.
- The UK’s move signals growing Western frustration with Israel’s extremist rhetoric and settler violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for their inflammatory remarks and alleged incitement of violence against Palestinians in a move that underscores growing international frustration with Israel’s conduct in Gaza. The sanctions, announced by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, include travel bans and asset freezes, marking a rare instance of Western nations directly targeting Israeli officials over human rights abuses.
The decision comes amid escalating settler violence in the West Bank and a devastating military campaign in Gaza that has drawn global condemnation. Smotrich, who suggested that starving Palestinian civilians could be justified as part of Israel’s war strategy, and Ben-Gvir, who praised violent settlers as «heroes,» have long been accused of fueling extremism.
A moral stand against extremism
Foreign Secretary Lammy, speaking on behalf of the UK alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, declared that the ministers’ actions were «not acceptable» and warranted accountability. «These two individuals have been inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months,» Lammy stated, emphasizing the need to curb extremist rhetoric that undermines peace efforts.
The sanctions specifically target Smotrich and Ben-Gvir in their personal capacities, avoiding restrictions on their ministries. However, the move has drawn fierce backlash from Israel, which called the measures «outrageous.» Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the sanctions, arguing that elected officials should not face such penalties. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the UK-led action as counterproductive to ceasefire negotiations, insisting that Hamas and not Israeli leaders remains the «real enemy.»
Smotrich’s comments have been particularly alarming. In May, he openly advocated for the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, stating, «Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to … the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries.» Even more chilling was his suggestion last year that starving two million Palestinians might be «justified» if it pressured Hamas to release hostages.
Ben-Gvir, meanwhile, has repeatedly incited violence, storming Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque and calling for its replacement with a Jewish temple. His glorification of settler attacks in the West Bank has further inflamed tensions, with reports of arson and assaults against Palestinian civilians escalating under his watch.
Testing Western resolve
The UK’s decision reflects mounting pressure on Israel to rein in extremist elements within its government. While the U.S. continues to shield Netanyahu’s administration from harsher consequences, Britain and its allies are signaling that unchecked settler violence and dehumanizing rhetoric will no longer go unchallenged.
Lammy reiterated the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution but stressed that extremist actions jeopardize any hope for peace. «We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid,» he said, condemning Israel’s blockade-induced famine in Gaza.
The sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir represent a long-overdue step toward holding Israeli officials accountable for their role in perpetuating violence and human rights abuses. While Israel and its allies dismiss the move as politically motivated, the moral imperative to confront genocidal rhetoric and state-backed extremism cannot be ignored.
As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 54,000 and settler attacks rage unchecked in the West Bank, the UK’s actions serve as a reminder that complicity in atrocities will eventually face consequences. Whether this marks a turning point in Western policy or merely a symbolic gesture remains to be seen, but Britain has taken a stand that history may yet vindicate.
Sources for this article include: