The UK government has announced sanctions on two prominent far-right Israeli ministers—Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—over inflammatory comments they made about Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
The pair, who serve as national security and finance ministers, respectively, in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, will be subject to travel bans and asset freezes under the measures.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, alongside his counterparts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, issued a joint statement denouncing the ministers’ remarks.
The statement reaffirmed a shared commitment to a two-state solution, warning that ongoing violence by extremist settlers and further settlement expansion were endangering hopes for peace.
“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited violent extremism and serious human rights abuses against Palestinians. These actions are unacceptable,” the statement read. “We are taking this step now to ensure accountability.”
The joint declaration also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages held by Hamas, whose continued rule over the strip was deemed untenable, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid. It reiterated that lasting regional stability can only be achieved through a negotiated two-state solution.
The move signals a growing shift among Western governments to apply greater pressure on Israel amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza. However, the United States is not expected to support the sanctions.
Israeli authorities were officially notified of the UK’s decision on Tuesday afternoon. In response, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the action, calling it “outrageous” that elected Israeli officials would be subjected to such penalties.
He said he had discussed the matter with Netanyahu and that a special cabinet meeting would be held early next week to determine Israel’s response.
Sanctions are typically kept confidential until formally announced to prevent targeted individuals from shielding their assets. While the UK had been considering sanctions against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for over a year, ministers delayed action until broader international backing could be secured.
Smotrich has been a central figure in the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and has actively opposed humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
In May, he vowed not to allow “even a grain of wheat” to be delivered to the war-ravaged territory. Earlier that month, he declared that Gaza would be “destroyed” and its civilian population displaced to a so-called humanitarian zone, with the ultimate goal of facilitating their emigration.
In past comments condemned even by close allies such as Germany, Smotrich suggested that the deaths of millions of Palestinians from starvation could be morally justified in the context of Israel’s efforts to free its hostages.
Ben-Gvir, meanwhile, sparked outrage by entering the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem on May 26 and advocating for its replacement with a Jewish place of worship. He has also called repeatedly for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, proposing ‘voluntary’ emigration as a solution.
David Lammy previously labelled Smotrich’s rhetoric as “monstrous and repellent” during a Commons session a fortnight ago. At that time, he stopped short of imposing direct sanctions on the ministers but did target several violent settlers and halted progress on a new trade agreement with Israel.
While no official ministerial statement was planned in Parliament following the latest measures, growing political pressure is likely to force the government to make a formal announcement in the coming days.
