Two Israeli government ministers have been sanctioned by five countries over their comments about Palestinians.
The UK said it was sanctioning Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich because of “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the West Bank. They serve as the minister of national security and minister of finance respectively.
The UK was joined by Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada in sanctioning the two men.
The UK said the two men will be barred from travelling to the UK and will have all their assets frozen.
The British foreign office said in a statement: “As Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to suffer from severe acts of violence by extremist Israeli settlers which also undermine a future Palestinian state, the UK has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in stepping up the international response.”
Both the Israeli and American governments protested the move.
Israel said: “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.”
Meanwhile Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, said on X: “These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.”