Five Western States Sanction Israeli Ministers for West Bank Violence
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom have announced coordinated sanctions against Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, citing their direct role in inciting violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Ben-Gvir, previously convicted in Israel for incitement to racism and backing a terror organization, along with Finance Minister Smotrich, will now be subject to asset freezes and travel bans.
In a joint statement, the prime ministers of the sanctioning countries pointed to the ministers' extremist rhetoric calling for Palestinians to be driven from their homes—rhetoric that has directly contributed to the death and mass displacement of Palestinian communities.
They said that 'extremist rhetoric […] encourages violence and human rights abuses and fundamentally rejects the two-state solution,' adding that they remain 'steadfastly committed' to that solution, which they still say is 'the only way to ensure long term stability in the region.'
According to the statement, the five countries had engaged in prolonged discussions with the Israeli government regarding Ben-Gvir, Smotrich, and the Israeli-led displacement of Palestinians and expansion of illegal settlements built atop destroyed Palestinian villages. But the 'appalling and dangerous' actions, the statement says, have continued with 'encouragement and impunity.'
'This is why we have taken this action now – to hold those responsible to account. The Israeli Government must uphold its obligations under international law and we call on it to take meaningful action to end extremist, violent and expansionist rhetoric,' reads the statement.
Before addressing Israel's genocide in Gaza, the statement pivots into familiar territory: affirming support for Israel. It revisits the October 7 attacks, despite the fact that over 20 months into a genocide livestreamed in real time, Israel has killed more than 55,000 people and is deliberately starving over 2 million under the pretext of fighting Hamas—an exercise of collective punishment that may well be the least severe crime on Israel's growing list of war crimes.
'We continue to want a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on our shared ties, values and commitment to their security and future,' the statement reads—sounding more like an apology for having to confront Israeli crimes than a serious condemnation of them.
The statement's closing lines gloss over the scale of the Gaza genocide: 'We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid. There must be no unlawful transfer of Palestinians from Gaza or within the West Bank, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.' Despite these staggering numbers and mounting evidence of war crimes, the statement avoids naming Israel as the perpetrator.
In a baffling deflection of blame from Israel, the leaders state: 'We want to see a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by Hamas' — further validating Israel's narrative and providing a veiled justification for its actions.
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