Britain has approved sanctions against two Israeli ministers.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has been considering sanctions against two far-right Israeli ministers for several months : Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, The New York Times (NYT) reports.

As the publication notes, the UK has hardened its stance on Israel due to military action in Gaza. Discussions about imposing sanctions have intensified in recent weeks after the UK joined France and CANADA in condemning Israel's escalating military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Britain saw no resistance to the idea of ​​sanctions from the United States. President Trump also criticized Israel, warning that he wanted "this whole situation to end as soon as possible," The NYT notes.

The attack on two employees of the Israeli Embassy in Washington has sparked discussions about the timing of sanctions against some Israeli ministers. The incident "has given pause to some British officials, who question whether now is the right time to punish senior Israeli leaders," a diplomat told the publication on condition of anonymity.

If the situation in the Gaza Strip improves, the British government may postpone its decision to blacklist Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of National Security, and Bezalel Smotrich, the Minister of Finance, who advocate for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza, "which would be a serious violation of international law," according to The New York Times. They support Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's expanded operations against Hamas, which have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including many children, in recent weeks.

On May 22, two employees of the Israeli Embassy in the United States were murdered near the Jewish Museum in Washington. "These horrific murders in D.C., clearly motivated by anti-Semitism, must stop immediately," President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. Israel's Permanent Representative to the UN, Danny DANON, called the incident a "heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism."

The shooting occurred as Israel launched a major new offensive in the Gaza Strip to free hostages and eliminate Hamas, which attacked the country in the fall of 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel intends to establish military control over the entire exclave. Due to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the EU has allowed for a review of relations with the Jewish state, while Britain, Canada , and France have threatened sanctions.

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