Ben-Gvir and Smotrich barred from UK in coordinated move with global allies amid rising settler attacks and Gaza tensions
The UK has imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers over what it described as repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. The move, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, marks a significant escalation in Britain’s criticism of the Israeli government’s handling of the conflict.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have been barred from entering the UK and will have any assets held in Britain frozen. The sanctions were unveiled on Tuesday as part of a joint initiative with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, which have also moved to hold the Israeli ministers accountable for their inflammatory rhetoric and roles in escalating settler violence.
“These actions are not acceptable,” Lammy said. “This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account. We will continue to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of hostages, a surge in aid, and progress toward a two-state solution.”
US officials, however, pushed back strongly against the UK-led move. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the sanctions “counterproductive,” arguing that they do not help efforts to end the war or secure the release of hostages held by Hamas
The decision has sparked condemnation from Israel and its closest ally, the United States. The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the sanctions “outrageous” and said it was unacceptable for democratically elected officials to face such measures. Finance Minister Smotrich, speaking at a new settlement inauguration in the West Bank, said he felt “contempt” for Britain’s decision and vowed to continue expanding settlements. “Britain has tried before to prevent us from settling our homeland,” he said, referencing British rule over Palestine prior to Israeli statehood. “We will not let it happen again.”
The ministers lead ultra-nationalist parties—Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit and Smotrich’s Religious Zionism—which are crucial to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition. Their influence over key ministries and public policy has drawn sharp criticism from international allies who see them as fuelling violence and obstructing peace efforts.
Both ministers have publicly opposed humanitarian aid to Gaza and have suggested resettling Palestinians outside the territory. Their remarks and policies have drawn accusations of extremism, with Lammy previously calling Smotrich’s statements about “cleansing” Gaza “monstrous” and “dangerous”.
The UK’s Foreign Office justified the sanctions by pointing to a surge in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, which it said undermines both human rights and hopes for a viable Palestinian state. “We are witnessing the worst settler violence in two decades,” Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer told the Commons. “These two ministers have incited and enabled that violence, which has led to the deaths of civilians and the displacement of entire communities.”
The sanctions also reflect increasing public and parliamentary pressure within the UK to take a firmer stance on Israel’s military and settlement activities. Talks over a new UK-Israel trade deal were suspended last month, and Britain has joined international calls warning that Israel risks breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza.
US officials, however, pushed back strongly against the UK-led move. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the sanctions “counterproductive,” arguing that they do not help efforts to end the war or secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. “The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the sanctions “shocking” in a BBC interview and warned that they could undermine the unity of international partners seeking to stabilise the region.
Still, officials in the UK and other sanctioning countries insist the move is necessary. “The rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers must stop,” said a joint statement from the five nations. “Our actions today are part of a wider international effort to demand accountability and uphold international law.”
Israel has built approximately 160 settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since seizing the territories in the 1967 Middle East war. These settlements are widely regarded as illegal under international law—a position backed by the International Court of Justice—though Israel disputes this view.
