The Times: London imposed sanctions on Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for their inflammatory statements against the Gaza Strip
The Times newspaper reported on Tuesday that London has decided to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, due to their statements calling for the genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Times newspaper added that the assets of Defense Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will be frozen, and they will be banned from entering the United Kingdom.
The Times explained that these sanctions will be imposed on the two Israeli ministers because of their statements about Gaza.
Over the months of genocide perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians, the two ministers repeatedly called for the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, the expulsion of its citizens, the establishment of settlements on their land, and the prevention of the entry of humanitarian relief aid.
Commenting on this, Ben-Gvir said in statements reported by Channel 24, “We’ve overcome Pharaoh, and we will also overcome (British Prime Minister) Keir Starmer’s wall, and I will continue to work for the State and people of Israel without fear or intimidation”.
Britain thus joins Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and Norway, which have announced similar measures against public figures in Israel.
These sanctions are part of increasing diplomatic pressure from Western countries on the Israeli government’s policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
At a press conference in West Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said, “We’ve been informed of the United Kingdom’s decision to place two of our ministers on the British sanctions list”.
“It’s shameful that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to such measures,” Sa’ar added.
For his part, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced Tuesday evening that he would respond to anticipated British sanctions against him with settlement activity.
Smotrich wrote on X, “I was sitting at the inauguration ceremony of the new settlement we approved, Mitzpe Ziv, in Hebron (southern occupied West Bank)”.
He continued, “While I was sitting there, I heard that Britain had decided to impose sanctions on me for obstructing the establishment of a Palestinian state”.
Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, added, “Britain previously tried to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland”.
He added, “We’ll not allow it to happen again… We’re determined to continue building,” meaning illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced at the end of May that the EU would review its partnership agreement with Israel in light of the “catastrophic situation” in Gaza.
In addition, French Prime Minister François Bayrou stated on May 20 that the three countries – France, Britain, and Canada – had jointly decided to oppose what was happening in the Gaza Strip and that they would jointly recognize a Palestinian state.
