UK Considers Sanctions on Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich and Security Minister Ben-Gvir Over Gaza Aid Blockade

Oct 16, 2024, 12:51 PM

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that the government is considering imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich, the Finance Minister, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister. This decision comes in response to their statements regarding the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, including comments encouraging Israelis to stop aid convoys entering Gaza and condoning violent actions of settlers. During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey pressed the Prime Minister on whether sanctions would be imposed. Starmer described the ministers' comments as "abhorrent" and indicated that the government is "looking at" possible sanctions. Former Foreign Secretary David Cameron has also described Smotrich and Ben-Gvir as "extremists" and revealed he had been working on imposing sanctions against them.