UK Considers Sanctions on Israeli Ministers Over Controversial Comments

Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighs penalties against Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir for remarks on Gaza and West Bank violence.

The UK government is contemplating sanctions against Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for comments deemed inflammatory regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and settler violence in the West Bank.
Former UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron had planned similar sanctions before the July election, viewing them as a preferable alternative to an arms embargo against Israel.
The proposed sanctions respond to Smotrich's suggestion that starving Gaza civilians might be justified and Ben-Gvir's praise for settlers involved in violence as heroes.
The UK, along with France and Algeria, has called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where access to aid has been severely restricted.
The United States has warned Israel that failure to improve humanitarian aid access in Gaza could result in reduced military support, urging Israel to increase aid convoys significantly.