Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The United Kingdom, Canada, and other key allies have imposed sanctions on two hardline Israeli government ministers, citing their repeated “incitement of violence against Palestinians” amid intensifying Western criticism of Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich now face travel bans and asset freezes, the UK government announced Tuesday. The measures were jointly agreed upon by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK, the countries’ foreign ministers confirmed in a joint statement.

Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who lead far-right parties essential to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, have drawn condemnation for inflammatory rhetoric on the occupied West Bank and the war in Gaza.

The five nations said their decision reflects deep concern about growing settler violence and settlement expansion, which they warned threatens the viability of a two-state solution.

“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights,” the joint statement declared. “Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.”

The statement also linked the violence in the West Bank to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, adding: “We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid.”

The move underscores a clear policy divergence with the United States, which has not sanctioned the two ministers and last week vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a permanent Gaza ceasefire. While Washington has urged an end to the fighting, it has largely reaffirmed its close ties with Israel.

Both Smotrich and Ben Gvir responded defiantly, accusing Britain of echoing colonial-era restrictions on Jewish migration and vowing to press ahead with their agenda. “The sanctions do not scare me,” said Ben Gvir, who heads the Jewish Power party. Smotrich, speaking at a new settlement inauguration in the West Bank, dismissed the sanctions as an effort to thwart the Israeli settlement movement.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions “unacceptable” and announced that Israel’s government will meet early next week to decide on a response.

Despite the punitive measures, the Western allies stressed they remain committed to Israel’s security and condemned Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks. However, they warned that “today’s measures are targeted towards individuals who, in our view, undermine Israel’s own security and its standing in the world.”

The sanctions mark an unprecedented rebuke from Israel’s traditional allies, who have grown increasingly alarmed by the far-right ministers’ inflammatory statements and policies, which they see as eroding prospects for peace in the region.

Source: CNN