Rubio denounces UK-led sanctions on Ben Gvir and Smotrich, urges reversal – The Times of Israel
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
US criticises UK decision to sanction two Israeli ministers
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls for sanctions to be reversed. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have been hit with travel ban and asset freeze. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the ministers had been ‘inciting violence against Palestinian people’ Mr Rubio said that the US “stands shoulder-to-shoulder” with Israel. The sanctions against Israel’s security and finance ministers were announced on Tuesday. The UK and other allies have upped pressure on Israel in recent weeks, amid aid shortages in Gaza and suggestions a large-scale offensive could be launched into the territory. It has been reported that only scarce amounts of aid is making it into the hands of people and the slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation.
The UK is taking the action alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. Mr Rubio said that the US “stands shoulder-to-shoulder” with Israel.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday that the ministers had been “inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months, they have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights”.
In a post on X, Mr Rubio said that the “United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.”
The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and… — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) June 10, 2025
He went on to say that America reminds “our partners not to forget who the real enemy is”.
“The United States urges the reversal of the sanctions and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”
The sanctions against Israel’s security and finance ministers were announced on Tuesday. Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir both belong to right-wing parties which help to prop up Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition government, and both have been criticised for their hardline stance on Gaza.
Mr Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, and also supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the sanctioned ministers had been ‘inciting violence against Palestinian people’ (PA)
Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza’s people to be resettled from the territory.
In a joint statement with the foreign ministers of the other nations who also imposed sanctions, Mr Lammy said that the two sanctioned ministers had incited “serious abuses of Palestinian human rights” and described their actions as “not acceptable”.
The statement added: “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.”
Downing Street said that the two men had been sanctioned in their “personal capacities” and not “their ministries and departments”.
“As the Israeli ambassador to the UK has said in recent interviews, their statements in their ministerial capacities do not even represent government policy,” a Number 10 spokesman said.
The UK and other allies have upped pressure on Israel in recent weeks, amid aid shortages in Gaza and suggestions a large-scale offensive could be launched into the territory.
It has been reported that only scarce amounts of aid is making it into the hands of people, and the slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation.
UK sanctions far-right Israeli ministers for ‘inciting violence’ against Palestinians
UK sanctions far-right Israeli ministers for ‘inciting violence’ against Palestinians. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will both be banned from entering the UK. It is part of a joint move with Australia, Norway, Canada and New Zealand. In response, Israel said: “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures” The ministers lead ultra-nationalist parties in the governing coalition, which holds an eight-seat majority in parliament. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law – although Israel disputes this. In October, Lord Cameron said he had planned to sanction the pair when he was foreign secretary from 2023-24, as a way of putting pressure on Israel. The move was taken despite warnings from the UK government, and so was taken so that action was taken now.
13 hours ago Share Save James Landale • @BBCJLandale Diplomatic correspondent Thomas Mackintosh BBC News Share Save
AFP via Getty Images Itamar Ben-Gvir (left) and Bezalel Smotrich are key members of PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition
The UK has sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers over “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the occupied West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will both be banned from entering the UK and will have any assets in the UK frozen as part of the measures announced by the foreign secretary. It is part of a joint move with Australia, Norway, Canada and New Zealand announced on Tuesday. In response, Israel said: “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.”
David Lammy said Finance Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir had “incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights”. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the move, writing on X: “These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war”. He urged the nations to reverse the sanctions, adding that the US “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.” The US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, joined Rubio’s condemnation, describing the move as a “shocking decision” in an interview with the BBC.
Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have also been criticised for their stance on the war in Gaza. Both ministers oppose allowing aid into the Strip and have called for Palestinians there to be resettled outside the territory. The Foreign Office said: “As Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to suffer from severe acts of violence by extremist Israeli settlers which also undermine a future Palestinian state, the UK has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in stepping up the international response.” After the announcement, Lammy said: “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.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the cabinet would meet next week to respond to what he called an “unacceptable decision”.
The Foreign Office added that the five nations are “clear that the rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank must stop”. In a statement it said the sanctions against the ministers “cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza where Israel must uphold International Humanitarian Law”. The ministers lead ultra-nationalist parties in the governing coalition, which holds an eight-seat majority in parliament. The support of Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, which holds six seats, and Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, which holds seven seats, is crucial to the government’s survival. Speaking at the inauguration of a new settlement in the West Bank, Smotrich said he felt “contempt” towards the UK’s move. “Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we cannot do it again,” he said. “We are determined, God willing, to continue building.” The minister was alluding to the period when Britain governed Palestine and imposed restrictions on Jewish immigration, most significantly from the late 1930s to late 1940s. Israel has built about 160 settlements housing some 700,000 Jews since it occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. The vast majority of the international community considers the settlements illegal under international law – a position supported by an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last year – although Israel disputes this. Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer said that 2024 had seen the “worst settler violence” in the West Bank in the past two decades and this year was “on track to be just as violent”. Commenting on the sanctions imposed on the two ministers, Falconer said they were “responsible for inciting settler violence” in the West Bank which has “led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole towns and villages”. Falconer said Smotrich and Ben-Gvir had continued their “appalling” rhetoric despite warnings from the UK government, and so action was taken.
The possibility of sanctioning these two ministers has long been in the pipeline. In October, Lord Cameron said he had planned to sanction the pair, when he was foreign secretary from 2023-24, as a way of putting pressure on Israel. The UK’s decision reflects growing popular and parliamentary pressure to take further action against the Israeli government for its operations both in Gaza and the West Bank. It also comes after a steady escalation of pressure by the UK and other allies. Last month the leaders of Britain, France and Canada issued a joint statement saying that Israel was at risk of breaking international law. The UK also broke off trade talks with Israel. In the Commons last month, Lammy described remarks by Smotrich about “cleansing” Gaza of Palestinians as “monstrous” and “dangerous” extremism.
Timeline of UK-Israel tensions
19 May: UK, France and Canada denounce expanded Israeli offensive on Gaza and continuing blockade, warn of “concrete” response; Israeli PM calls move “huge prize” for Hamas
UK, France and Canada denounce expanded Israeli offensive on Gaza and continuing blockade, warn of “concrete” response; Israeli PM calls move “huge prize” for Hamas 20 May: UK suspends free trade talks with Israel, sanctions settlers, and summons Israel’s ambassador; Israel foreign ministry calls move “regrettable”
UK suspends free trade talks with Israel, sanctions settlers, and summons Israel’s ambassador; Israel foreign ministry calls move “regrettable” 22 May: Israeli PM links criticism of Israel by leaders of UK, France and Canada to deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC on 21 May
Israeli PM links criticism of Israel by leaders of UK, France and Canada to deadly shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC on 21 May 10 June: UK sanctions Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir for advocating forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza; Israel’s foreign minister calls move “outrageous”
US condemns sanctions by 5 countries on Israeli ministers
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