UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway impose sanctions on Ben-Gvir, Smotrich
Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway announced Tuesday they have imposed sanctions on two far-right 'Israeli' government ministers for allegedly inciting extremist violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, 'Israel’s' national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, finance minister, face asset freezes and travel bans from the five countries. Both are prominent supporters of expanding 'Israeli' settlements in the West Bank and key partners in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
The sanctions represent a rare and sharp rebuke from Western allies traditionally friendly to 'Israel', directly challenging the government’s settlement policies and escalating settler violence.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the five countries said Ben-Gvir and Smotrich “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous.”
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the UK have today taken concrete measures against Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, in response to the incitement of serious violence in the West Bank. pic.twitter.com/WgSNbbFr0X
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) June 10, 2025
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized, “These two men have been inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and encouraging egregious abuses of human rights.”
'Israeli' Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the move as “outrageous” and said he had discussed the matter with Prime Minister Netanyahu, with plans for further talks scheduled next week to decide Israel’s response.
Smotrich, speaking on social media while inaugurating a new settlement in the West Bank, rejected the sanctions. “We are determined to continue building,” he said. “We overcame Pharaoh, we’ll overcome Starmer’s Wall,” referencing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Ben-Gvir also posted on social media, invoking the same message of defiance.
The sanctions underscore growing international concern over the rising settler violence and the 'Israeli' government’s policies, as well as the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied territories following the escalation of conflict in Gaza.
