Western Nations Impose Sanctions on Israel's Far-Right Ministers Amid Gaza Crisis

On Tuesday, five Western nations announced sanctions targeting two far-right Israeli cabinet members, marking a significant rebuke of Israel’s leadership and signaling an escalation in Western efforts to address settler violence in the West Bank and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The sanctions, implemented jointly by Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, include travel bans and asset freezes directed at Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Both ministers are recognized as some of the most hard-line members within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet. They have publicly advocated for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, statements that have been strongly condemned by international officials as extreme and unacceptable.

In a unified statement, the foreign ministers of the five countries asserted that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have incited extremist violence and committed serious violations of Palestinian human rights, justifying the imposition of sanctions to hold them accountable.

While primarily responding to violence in the West Bank, British officials noted that the sanctions also aim to increase pressure on Netanyahu’s government to negotiate a cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the sanctions as unacceptable and announced that the government would convene next week to determine an appropriate response.

Saar described the measures as outrageous, emphasizing that elected officials and government members should not be subjected to such restrictions.

The decision to blacklist Ben-Gvir and Smotrich followed weeks of deliberation and came after a joint statement by Britain, Canada, and France expressing concern over civilian treatment in Gaza. However, France opted not to participate in the sanctions, reflecting differing approaches among allied nations.

Officials from Britain indicated that they consulted with counterparts in the previous U.S. administration and encountered minimal opposition to the planned sanctions.

The joint declaration by the five nations called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the prompt release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, increased humanitarian aid, and renewed efforts toward a two-state solution.

In late May, during a parliamentary session, the British foreign secretary strongly criticized Israel’s conduct in the conflict. He announced the suspension of trade talks and condemned Smotrich’s remarks about forcibly relocating Gaza’s two million residents, labeling such rhetoric as extremist and reprehensible.