UK sanctions far-right Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for ‘incitement of West Bank violence’

David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said: “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.”

However his counterpart in Jerusalem, Gideon Sa’ar, reacted angrily to the news, saying: “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.”

“I discussed it earlier today with PM Netanyahu and we will hold a special government meeting early next week to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision”, he added.

Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are enthusiastic supporters of imposing “Israeli sovereignty” on the West Bank and are opposed to Palestinian Statehood.

Reacting to the announcement, Ben-Gvir said: "We got through Pharaoh – we will also get through Keir Starmer".

And Smotrich, during an inauguration ceremony for a new West Bank settlement, posted on X: “I heard that Britain had decided to impose sanctions on me for obstructing the establishment of the Palestinian state. The timing couldn't be better.

"The natural response would also be practical, but the verbal response is contempt for the white paper. Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and we will not allow it to do it again.”

Last week, Smotrich told his office to prepare plans to impose Israeli sovereignty on the West Bank.

“We will not stop until the entire area receives its full legal status and becomes an inseparable part of the State of Israel.

"We are changing the face of the settlement enterprise not just as a slogan, but through real action.”

Earlier today, before announcement, in an interview with Sky News, Sir Keir Starmer was questioned about the situation in Gaza, which he described as “intolerable” and “getting worse”.

Asked whether he was taking any concrete steps against Israel, the prime minister said that the government was “talking to other partners about what more we could do, including questions of sanctions.”

“My strong belief is, when we make a move, if we're able to do that in company of other countries, that's a stronger move than doing it on our own. So that's the basic approach that we're taking.”

In the Commons last week, Starmer told MPs that the government was “looking at further action, along with our allies, including sanctions” against Israeli ministers.

The government has been considering sanctions against the two Israeli ministers for over a year.

In October 2024, Sir Keir Starmer responded to a question by Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey that he was “looking at” imposing sanctions on them.

That same month, former foreign secretary Lord Cameron told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he had considered sanctions against the two Israeli ministers, whom he called “extremist”, as a way of putting pressure on the Israeli government.

The Board of Deputies said it would not be issuing a fresh statement on the sanctions, but pointed to comments by its president, Phil Rosenberg, at last month’s plenary meeting, in which he called the two ministers a “stain on the Zionist project”.
”It seems that nearly every time they open their mouths, something appalling comes out. They need to be reined in – ideally, they ought to be kicked out,” he added.