Britain and four other nations imposed sanctions on Tuesday on two far-right Israeli cabinet ministers. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway joined Britain in freezing the assets and imposing travel bans on Israel\u2019s national security minister Ben-Gvir and finance minister Smotrich, both West Bank settlers. Signalling a rare split with its close British ally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X that the U.S. condemned the move. He said it would not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, end the war there and bring home hostages Palestinian Hamas fighters abducted from Israel 20 months ago. \u201cWe reject any notion of equivalence: Hamas is a terrorist organisation\u2026 We remind our partners not to forget who the real enemy is,\u201d Rubio said, demanding a withdrawal of the sanctions. British foreign minister David Lammy, in a joint statement with the foreign ministers of the other four nations, said Ben-Gvir and Smotrich had \u201cincited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. \u201cThis is why we have taken action now to hold those responsible to account,\u201d the statement said. Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said the sanctions included targeted financial restrictions and travel bans. Israel\u2019s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said the action by the five countries was \u201coutrageous\u201d and the Israeli government would hold a special meeting early next week to decide how to respond. Smotrich, speaking at the inauguration of a new West Bank Jewish settlement in the Hebron Hills, spoke of \u201ccontempt\u201d for Britain\u2019s move. \u201cWe are determined, God willing, to continue building,\u201d he said. As the five nations announced action against the Israeli ministers, the United States imposed sanctions on a leading Palestinian human rights organization as well as five charity groups in the Middle East and Europe, accusing them of supporting Palestinian fighters including Hamas. EGREGIOUS: Last month, the leaders of Britain, France and Canada put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government to end a blockade on aid into Gaza, where international experts have said famine is imminent, promising \u201cconcrete action\u201d if a new military offensive did not stop. London also suspended free trade talks with Israel for pursuing \u201cegregious policies\u201d in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, and announced further sanctions against West Bank settlers. In response, Netanyahu accused them of wanting to help Hamas and \u201cbeing on the wrong side of history\u201d. Tuesday\u2019s joint statement said their action was focused on curbing violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and was aimed solely at individuals who \u201cundermine Israel\u2019s own security\u201d. But it added the measures could not be seen in isolation of events in Gaza. \u201cWe continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid,\u201d it said. \u201cThere must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.\u201d The foreign ministers said they still wanted \u201ca strong friendship with the people of Israel based on shared ties, values and commitment to (its) security and future\u201d. \u201cWe 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,\u201d the statement said. Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have previously clashed with Netanyahu, both calling for the permanent conquest of Gaza and re-establishment of the Jewish settlements there that Israel abandoned in 2005, notions that the Israeli leader has rejected. Israel began its offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023 in which 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, according to Israeli tallies, and 251 people were taken to Gaza and held hostage. Israel\u2019s campaign has devastated much of Gaza and killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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