Overview

• The UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway froze the assets of and imposed travel bans on security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
• Western foreign ministers said the measures target incendiary comments that incited violence and blocked humanitarian aid in Gaza.
• Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the sanctions “outrageous” and convened a special cabinet meeting to decide on a response next week.
• The United States declined to join the sanctions effort, underscoring a growing divide among Israel’s traditional allies.
• The coordinated action adds to international pressure as Gaza faces a blockade that has pushed millions of Palestinians to the brink of famine.