Israeli hardliners Ben-Gvir and Smotrich hit by UK-led sanctions

Palestinian ambassador says move is step in right direction but no substitute for arms embargo

The UK has been joined by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing sanctions on two Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir, left, and Bezalel Smotrich. EPA

Two senior Israeli cabinet ministers have had sanctions imposed in a British-led move, leading to a major diplomatic fallout.

Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich face travel bans and financial restrictions from the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

In an official statement, the British government said the pair were “now sanctioned for their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians, effective immediately”.

We expect the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine. This is good but does not get us to that point

Husam Zomlot

In a joint statement with foreign ministers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account.

“We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas, which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.”

It is a significant escalation in political pressure against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The souring of relations with friendly western countries was further cemented after a senior Israeli cabinet minister condemned the sanctions as “outrageous” and “unacceptable”.

The US State Department also condemned the sanctions against the two Israeli ministers.

“We find that extremely unhelpful,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. “It will do nothing to get us closer to a ceasefire in Gaza.

“If our allies want to help, they should focus on supporting special envoy Steve Witkoff’s negotiations and back the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation when it comes to food and aid.”

Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian m ission to the UK, welcomed the government’s response to the ministers repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities.

Speaking exclusively to The National, he called the move a “significant step in the right direction”.

“These two ministers have been publicly calling for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, not only by words but by deeds,” Mr Zomlot said. “These two ministers have been literally physically arming illegal settlers [who are] going on the rampage, committing all the crimes that the world has been following.”

“Sanctioning these ministers is absolutely the right step in the right direction.” Mr Zomlot called on London to make further changes to its policy in response to developments across the Palestinian territory.

“This is not a substitute for the arms embargo, not a substitute for sanctions on the entire ecosystem of illegality, including settlements, and not a substitute for the recognition of the state of Palestine.”

With a French and Saudi-sponsored conference on advancing the two-state solution taking place on June 17 to 20 at UN headquarters, Mr Zomlot said the opportunity was looming for the UK to announce that step.

“We are awaiting that conference next week, we expect the UK government to recognise the state of Palestine. This is good but does not get us to that point.”

But Israel's renewed Gaza offensive, which has seen the death toll of Palestinians increase to 55,700, has turned international opinion against Israel.

Israeli far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, surrounded by security, at Damascus Gate, Jerusalem. EPA

British MPs from all parties have in recent weeks become angry at Israel’s actions and condemn the UK government’s failure to impose sanctions or recognise the Palestinian state.

Mr Lammy and Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer have faced accusations of Israeli killings and inhumane treatment of Palestinians.

From January last year to April this year extremist settlers have carried out more than 1,900 attacks against Palestinian civilians, the UK government said.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Reuters

The diplomatic fallout began even before the sanctions were officially announced with Israel’s government reacting furiously after Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar condemned the “British sanctions list”.

“It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.”

Mr Netanyahu will hold a special government meeting early next week “to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision”, he added.

Mr Ben-Gvir posted a message on X, saying: “We survived Pharaoh, we will also survive Keir Starmer. I will continue to work for Israel and the people of Israel without fear or intimidation.”

In further retaliation to the sanctions Mr Smotrich allegedly threatened to stop transferring funds to the Palestinian Authority.

Even the pair’s political foe, Benny Gantz, said that while he “deeply” disagreed with their views, the sanctions were a “profound moral failure and a bad message to the entire world” that he claimed would “fuel global terrorism”.

Tuesday’s action could have a unifying effect on the Israeli government, which is comprised of a fragile coalition that includes hard-right and ultra-Orthodox figures.

This has allowed Mr Smotrich to approve the expansion of illegal West Bank settlements while he has also vigorously campaigned against allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza,

He caused outrage after stating that he would allow “not even a grain of wheat” to enter the territory and only last month stated that Gaza would be “entirely destroyed”. He also referred to ethnic cleansing by suggesting that Palestinians should “leave in great numbers to third countries”.

His colleague Mr Ben-Gvir, who was convicted of incitement to racism in 2007, has also stoked fires by advocating the replacement of the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem with a synagogue.

He has also called for Palestinians to be expelled from Gaza and stated that “there is no need to bring in aid, they have enough”.

Among senior MPs who have called for stronger action against the pair has been Emily Thornberry, chairwoman of the foreign affairs committee.

“I and others have been calling for sanctions on these extremist Israeli ministers for the better part of a year,” she posted on X. “The government is finally doing the right thing.”

In reference to the summit jointly hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, she argued that the sanctions “must be a precursor to recognising a Palestinian state next week – not an alternative to it”.