UK Sanctions Far-Right Israeli Ministers Over Incitement and Human Rights Abuses
London, June 2025 — The United Kingdom, alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, has imposed sanctions on two senior Israeli ministers—Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich—for inciting violence against Palestinians and contributing to ongoing human rights abuses in Gaza and the West Bank.
The measures include asset freezes and travel bans, and mark the strongest coordinated Western action yet against Israeli officials for extremist rhetoric and support of illegal settlement expansion.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the sanctions are aimed at accountability: “Their actions are unacceptable and have fueled serious abuses.”
Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, known for far-right positions, have called for the annexation of Palestinian land and supported expulsion of Palestinians, drawing sharp condemnation from international leaders. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced the move as “outrageous.”
This step follows the UK’s recent suspension of trade talks with Israel and growing Western frustration over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, where nearly 55,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The sanctions come amid increased settler violence and intensified Israeli military raids in the West Bank, where cities like Nablus have been placed under lockdown and dozens injured in military operations.
Western nations continue to press Israel for a ceasefire and humanitarian access, urging commitment to a two-state solution.
