UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway Impose Sanctions on Far-Right Israeli Ministers

Britain, along with four other nations—Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway—imposed sanctions on two Israeli ministers on Tuesday, citing their “repeated incitements of violence” against Palestinians.

The sanctions target Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, barring them from entering the UK and freezing any assets they hold in the country.

This coordinated action marks a rare collective move from the five countries, coming as Israel’s actions during its conflict with Hamas continue to provoke growing international criticism. The decision also highlights a notable divergence from the United States, Israel’s closest ally, on the matter.

The foreign ministers of the five countries accused Smotrich and Ben Gvir of inciting extremist violence and contributing to serious violations of Palestinian human rights. “These actions are not acceptable,” they stated in a joint declaration. “This is why we have taken action now—to hold those responsible accountable.”

Both Smotrich and Ben Gvir are part of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition government. Their hard-line views on the Gaza war and on settlements in the occupied West Bank have drawn significant backlash. Smotrich, who resides in a West Bank settlement, has advocated for the expansion of settlements and has called for the annexation of the West Bank. Last month, he controversially stated that Gaza would be “entirely destroyed” and that civilians would “start to leave in great numbers to third countries.”

Ben Gvir, similarly, has suggested that Gazans should be resettled elsewhere, further fueling criticism of his approach. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned their “horrendous extremist language” and urged the Israeli government to distance itself from such rhetoric.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed outrage at the sanctions, noting that the UK had informed Israel about the decision. However, the UK foreign ministry pointed out that extremist settlers had committed over 1,900 attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank since January of last year, underscoring the broader context for the sanctions.

The five countries’ joint statement emphasized that the rising violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank must stop and that Israel must adhere to international humanitarian law, particularly in Gaza. However, they also reaffirmed their commitment to Israel’s security, stating their continued efforts to work with the Israeli government to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

These sanctions follow previous actions by the UK, including the suspension of free-trade negotiations with Israel and the summoning of Israel’s ambassador. The UK has also implemented travel bans and financial restrictions on several prominent Israeli settlers and organizations accused of supporting violence against Palestinians.

While the sanctions send a clear message regarding the conduct of Israeli officials, they also underline the ongoing international debate surrounding Israel’s policies in both Gaza and the West Bank.