UK Imposes Sanctions on Israeli Ministers for 'Inciting Violence'

Britain one of five nations to condemn the abuse of Palestinian rights

- Patrick Wintour

The UK has been joined by Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in placing sanctions on two Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, largely for inciting violence against Palestinians in their campaign to gain control of new settlements in the West Bank.

Ben-Gvir, the security minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, and Smotrich, the finance minister, will face travel bans and have any assets in the five countries frozen. The sanctions come into effect on their personal capacity and place no restrictions on the ministries they lead. Netanyahu vowed to retaliate.

In a prepared move with little notice for Israel, the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy said in a joint statement with the foreign ministers of the other four countries: "We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution and will continue to work with our partners towards its implementation. It is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.

"Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now-to hold those responsible to account.

"We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.