London to impose sanctions against Israeli ministers

Britain intends to join sanctions against Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich imposed by CANADA, Australia, and New Zealand, The Times newspaper reports.

According to the publication, this decision will be announced on June 10. The politicians' assets in the UK will be frozen, and they themselves will be banned from entering the UK. Furthermore, financial institutions based in the UK will be prohibited from conducting transactions involving them.

The measures were prompted by harsh statements by two far-right ministers regarding the Gaza Strip. The Finance Minister, in particular, approved the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, despite their creation being considered illegal under international law.

Furthermore, Smotrich opposed the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and stated that he would not allow "even a grain of wheat" to reach the war zone, The Times reports. In May, the minister also said that "Gaza will be completely destroyed" and that Palestinians "will flee in large numbers to third countries."

Ben-Gvir, for his part, called for the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to be replaced by a synagogue and supported the exodus of Palestinians from Gaza. "We must encourage emigration. Encourage the voluntary emigration of Gazans," he said in 2024. The minister later opined that there was no need to import humanitarian aid into Gaza, as "they have enough." Ben-Gvir considered the decision to resume aid deliveries to the local population a "serious mistake."

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the Israeli ministers' statements as "monstrous."

The New York Times (NYT) previously reported that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government has been considering sanctions against Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for several months. London condemns Israel's expanding military operations in the Gaza Strip and advocates for the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to the exclave. Starmer warned of the risk of violating international law due to Israel's position.

An Israeli government spokesman, quoted by The Times, called it "outrageous that elected representatives and government members are being subjected to such measures." Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the measures against the ministers a scandal and promised that the government would hold a special meeting to decide on a response.

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