On Tuesday, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway announced sanctions against two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, for allegedly inciting extremist violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. This decision, a rare rebuke from Western allies of Israel, stems from rising violence linked to Israeli settlement policies and the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 attack, which escalated the conflict in Gaza.
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, influential members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, are known for advocating continued settlement expansion and the forced displacement of Palestinians. The sanctions, which may include asset freezes and travel bans, underscore international condemnation of their rhetoric, with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stating they have been inciting violence for months. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand emphasized that these actions target individuals, not Israel as a nation.
Both ministers reacted defiantly on social media, vowing to continue their settlement efforts. Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, condemned the sanctions as “outrageous” and warned that such measures might hinder ongoing negotiations regarding the Gaza conflict.
This situation reflects broader international scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, where over 100 settlements host more than 500,000 Israeli settlers, while Palestinians live under military rule. The settlements are widely regarded as illegal under international law and are seen as a significant barrier to a two-state solution.
Human rights advocate Eitay Mack lauded the sanctions as a historic development, suggesting they signal a breaking of the perceived immunity that Israeli politicians enjoyed and serve as a warning to Netanyahu amid ongoing scrutiny regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza.
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