The United Kingdom has announced tough actions against two far-right Israeli ministers — Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich — for encouraging violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. As part of the sanctions, the two ministers are banned from entering the UK, and any assets they may hold in the country are now frozen.
These sanctions were not done by the UK alone. Four other countries — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway — joined in this move. It marks a strong response from countries that say the violence and intimidation by extremist Israeli settlers must stop.
Ben-Gvir is Israel’s National Security Minister, while Smotrich serves as the Finance Minister. Both are known for their extreme views and public statements that many say promote hatred and violence against Palestinians.
UK Responds to Rising West Bank Violence
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that both ministers had encouraged “extremist violence” and serious human rights abuses. He added that as violence grows in the West Bank, the UK and its allies had to respond. The British government believes that the ministers’ words and actions have made the situation even worse for Palestinian families already living under pressure.
UK Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer told Parliament that 2024 has seen the highest levels of settler violence in the West Bank in 20 years. He said entire towns and villages have been displaced due to attacks by settlers, and that Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are directly responsible for pushing this violence with their words and policies.
Lammy explained that the UK has tried warning the ministers in the past, but since they did not stop their behavior, sanctions were necessary. He added that the UK is committed to helping end the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and to supporting a peaceful two-state solution.
Backlash from Israeli Government
The decision by the UK and its partners caused outrage in Israel. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the move “unacceptable” and said the Israeli cabinet would meet to plan a response.
Speaking from a new settlement in the West Bank, Smotrich said he felt “contempt” for the UK’s decision. He made a strong statement about Britain’s past, saying the country had once tried to stop Jewish people from settling their homeland and would not succeed now. He vowed to keep building more settlements.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are leaders of two ultra-nationalist parties: Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) and Religious Zionism. Their parties are small in number but powerful in Israel’s parliament. The current Israeli government, which has only an eight-seat majority, depends on their support to stay in power.
International Response Sparks Debate
The sanctions also received criticism from the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the actions by the UK and other countries do not help efforts to achieve peace or bring home the hostages still held in Gaza. He asked those countries to reverse the sanctions, stating that the United States stands “shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also condemned the decision, calling it “shocking” in an interview with the BBC.
In the UK, the response was mixed. Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed the move but criticized the government and the Labour Party for taking too long. Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel didn’t comment directly on the sanctions but emphasized the importance of securing aid for Gaza and pushing for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
This action follows 20 months of war between Israel and Hamas, which began after Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages. Since then, over 54,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry there.
