British Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed on Wednesday that his government is considering imposing sanctions on two far-right Israeli government officials, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. Because of the hateful statements
“We are looking at this because there are undeniable statements of hate,” Starmer added at his weekly accountability hearing before Parliament. “In addition to other very disturbing behaviors in the West Bank and throughout the region.”
Starmer’s announcement came after a statement by former Conservative Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who said he was preparing to impose sanctions on the two ministers before the UK general election in July, which his party lost.
Last August, Smotrich confirmed in a conference that letting the residents of the Gaza Strip die of hunger is morally justified in order to free the Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the attack of October 7, 2023.
At the end of last August, London condemned the methods of the Israeli forces during their implementation of a large-scale military operation in the West Bank, which led to the killing of at least 19 Palestinians within 48 hours.
London criticized Ben Gvir’s positions, which “threaten the status quo in the holy places in Jerusalem.”
The right-wing minister sparked international condemnation after he performed prayers in mid-August with about 3,000 Israelis in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
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