UK sanctions Israeli ministers over Gaza comments

The United Kingdom sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers on the comments they made on Gaza.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will both be prohibited from entering the United Kingdom and will have assets in the United Kingdom frozen within the framework of the measures announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

David Lammy said that the Minister of Finance Smotrich and the Minister of National Security Ben-Gvir had “prompted extremist violence and serious Palestinian human rights”.

In response, Israel said: “It is scandalous that elected officials and members of the government be subject to this type of measures.”

Smotrich and Ben-Gvir were both criticized for their position on the war in Gaza.

Smotrich campaigned against authorization to authorize Aid to Gaza, while Ben-Gvir asked that the Gazans be reinstalled from the territory.

After announcing the sanctions, Lammy said: “These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken measures now – to keep officials to account.

“We will endeavor to obtain an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the hostages remaining by Hamas which can not have any future role in the governance of Gaza, an increase in aid and a path to a solution to two states.”

The Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, said the cabinet would meet next week to respond to what he called an “unacceptable decision”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that “alongside Australia Partners, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, the United Kingdom is clear that the growing violence and intimidation of Israeli colonists against Palestinian communities in the West Bank must stop”.

In a statement, he said that the measures taken against Smotrich and Ben-Gvir “cannot be seen in isolation of events in Gaza where Israel must respect international humanitarian law”.

The two ministers belong to right -wing parties that help support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.

As part of the coalition, the Otzma Yehudit (Power Jewish) party in Ben-Gvir holds six seats while the Sionism’s religious party of Smotrich has seven seats.

Smotrich, speaking during the inauguration of a new colony in the hills of Hebron, spoke of “contempt” for the decision of the United Kingdom.

He said: “Great Britain has already tried once to prevent us from adjusting the cradle of our homeland, and we cannot start again. We are determined, to God, to continue to build.”

The minister alluded to the period when Great Britain ruled Palestine and imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration, especially from the late 1930s to the late 1940s.

The possibility of sanctioning these two ministers has long been underway.

In October, Lord Cameron said He had planned to sanction the pairWhen he was secretary of foreign affairs, to put pressure on Israel.

The United Kingdom’s decision reflects more and more popular and parliamentary pressure to take new measures against the Israeli government for its operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

It also occurs after a constant climbing of pressure by the United Kingdom and other allies.

Last month, the leaders of Great Britain, France and Canada published a joint statement saying that Israel was likely to break international law.

The United Kingdom has also broken trade discussions with Israel.

In the communes last month, Lammy described the remarks of Smotrich on the “cleaning” of Gaza of the Palestinians as a “monstrous” and “dangerous” extremism.

• May 19: The United Kingdom, France and Canada denounce the extended Israeli offensive on Gaza and the continuous blockade, warning of the “concrete” response; Israeli calls call for the move of the “huge price” for Hamas
• May 20: The United Kingdom suspends free trade negotiations with Israel, sanctions the colonists and summons the ambassador of Israel; Calls from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel “regrettable” moving
• May 22: Israeli PM links criticism from Israel by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada to Mortal shooting of two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC on May 21
• June 10: The United Kingdom sanctions Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for defending the forced displacement of the Palestinians of Gaza; The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, calls for “scandalous” moving

Reacting to the sanctions, the conservative secretary of the House of the Shadow, Dame Priti Patel, said: “We have been clear that the British government must take advantage of its influence at each occasion to ensure that the remaining hostages are released, that the aid continues to reach those who need it, and a lasting end to the conflict is reached.”

The liberal democratic chief, Sir Ed Davey, also praised the sanctions, but said that he was “disappointing” that the conservative government and the work “took so long to act”.

It has been 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented cross -border attack led by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 54,927 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas Ministry of Hamas in the territory.