Overview

• The UK joined Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway in freezing the assets of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, barring them from entry and prohibiting financial institutions from dealing with them.
• The measures were prompted by ‘monstrous’ comments from the two ministers, including calls to block humanitarian aid into Gaza and to displace Palestinian civilians to third countries.
• Britain’s move breaks with longstanding US support and reflects a coordinated effort by several of Israel’s allies to pressure the government over its Gaza campaign and West Bank settlement expansion.
• Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the sanctions as “outrageous” and said the Cabinet will hold a special meeting next week to decide on a formal response.
• Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, key figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile coalition, are known for hard-line policies toward Palestinians and advocacy of West Bank annexation.