Sign in Subscribe
Cabinet officials

UK Sanctions Two Israeli Ministers for Inciting Violence and Abuses of Palestinian Human Rights

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, announced that the UK has sanctioned two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for inciting violence against Palestinian people and promoting egregious abuses of human rights. This move comes as part of a coordinated effort with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway to ramp up pressure on Israel. The sanctions will include a travel ban and asset freeze, targeting the ministers in their personal capacities.

The UK's decision follows months of incitement by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, who belong to right-wing parties that prop up Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition government. Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza and supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled elsewhere.

Lammy stated that the UK's actions are necessary to hold those responsible for inciting violence and promoting abuses of human rights to account. He also called on the Israeli government to disavow and condemn the language used by the two ministers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK has sanctioned two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for inciting violence against Palestinian people and promoting egregious abuses of human rights.
  • The sanctions will include a travel ban and asset freeze, targeting the ministers in their personal capacities.
  • Ben-Gvir and Smotrich belong to right-wing parties that prop up Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition government.
  • Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza and supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
  • Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled elsewhere.
  • The UK's decision comes as part of a coordinated effort with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway to ramp up pressure on Israel.

Statistics:

  • The UK has sanctioned two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
  • The sanctions will include a travel ban and asset freeze.
  • The sanctions target the ministers in their personal capacities, not their ministries and departments.
  • The UK's decision follows months of incitement by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
  • The Israeli government's actions in the Palestinian Territories have been compared to ethnic cleansing by critics.
  • The UK has suspended arms sales to Israel due to concerns over international humanitarian law.

Sources:

  • BBC News: "UK sanctions two Israeli ministers for inciting violence"
  • The Guardian: "UK imposes sanctions on Israeli ministers over 'incitement' of violence against Palestinians"
  • The Times of Israel: "Israel's foreign minister slams UK sanctions on two ministers"
  • Al Jazeera: "UK sanctions two Israeli ministers for 'inciting violence'"

Read more