UK Sanctions Israeli Ministers Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich

The UK, Canada, Australia, and Norway have sanctioned the two Israeli far-left ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. 

Both ministers will face travel bans and will have their assets in the five countries frozen. 

Ben-Gvir said about the decision, "We passed Pharaoh, we will also pass Starmer’s wall," while Smotrich said, "Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we will not allow it to do so again."

Along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said, "Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights."

He also said, "These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account."

The decision comes after the UK halted trade negotiations with Israel and sanctioned settler organizations in the West Bank.