UK and partners unite to sanction ministers inciting West Bank violence
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-09)

UK sanctions Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities,
alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway.

- UK sanctions Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich today, in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities
- alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, the UK calls for immediate action against extremist settlers
- measures announced today demonstrate UK commitment to challenging those inciting hatred and violence
As Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to suffer from severe acts of violence by extremist Israeli settlers which also undermine a future Palestinian state, the United Kingdom has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in stepping up the international response.

In their personal capacity, Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are now sanctioned for their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian civilians, effective immediately.

The UK has made clear in public and private to the Netanyahu government that Israel must cease expansion of illegal settlements which undermine a future Palestinian state, clamp down on settler violence, and condemn inflammatory and extremist statements from both individuals.

The measures announced by international partners today demonstrate commitment to ensuring the individuals are held accountable for encouraging and inciting human rights abuses.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway said in a joint statement:

We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution and will continue to work with our partners towards its implementation. It is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperilled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now – to hold those responsible to account.

We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.

As of April 2025, extremist settlers have carried out over 1,900 attacks against Palestinian civilians (United Nations report) (https://www.un.org/unispal/document/west-bank-monthly-snapshot-casualties-property-damage-and-displacement-april-2025/) since January last year. The UK is committed to protecting the viability of a two-state solution and human rights, including by challenging those inciting violence.

In a joint statement with partners, the UK reiterated its commitment to continuing “a strong friendship with the people of Israel based on shared ties, values and commitment to [its] security and future.”

The Foreign Secretary was also clear that the UK will “continue to work with the Israeli Government and a range of partners” to deliver long-term peace and security.

Alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, the UK is clear that the rising violence and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank must stop. Measures today cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza where Israel must uphold International Humanitarian Law.

The UK and partners support Israel’s security and will continue to work with the Israeli Government to strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas must release the hostages immediately, and there must be a path to a two-state solution with Hamas having no role in future governance.

Background

Individuals and entities sanctioned today:

Itamar BEN-GVIR (hereafter “BEN-GVIR”) is an involved person within the meaning of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 on the basis of the following ground: BEN-GVIR is responsible for, engaging in, inciting, promoting and/or supporting activity which amounts to a serious abuse of the right of individuals not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in particular acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals in the West Bank. BEN-GVIR is now subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification. BEN-GVIR is Minister for National Security but is sanctioned in his personal capacity

Bezalel Yoel SMOTRICH (hereafter “SMOTRICH”) is an involved person within the meaning of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 on the basis of the following ground: SMOTRICH is responsible for engaging in, inciting, promoting and/or supporting activity which amounts to a serious abuse of the right of individuals not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, in particular acts of aggression and violence against Palestinian individuals in the West Bank. SMOTRICH is now subject to an asset freeze, travel ban, and director disqualification. SMOTRICH is Minister for Finance and Additional Minister of Defence but is sanctioned in his personal capacity

Read more:
- Foreign ministers’ joint statement on measures targeting Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-ministers-joint-statement-on-measures-targeting-itamar-ben-gvir-and-bezalel-smotrich)
- Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Minister for the Middle East statement, 10 June 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/israel-and-the-opts-minister-for-the-middle-east-statement)
- more information about UK sanctions (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-sanctions), including the full UK Sanctions List
Definitions

Asset freeze

Where an asset freeze applies, in summary, it is generally prohibited within the UK, and for UK persons outside the UK, to:
- deal with funds or economic resources, owned, held or controlled by a designated person
- make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to, or for the benefit of, a designated person
- engage in actions that, directly or indirectly, circumvent the financial sanctions prohibitions
Director disqualification sanctions

Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it will be an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a company or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a UK company.

Travel ban

An individual subject to a travel ban will be an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971, meaning that they must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom.

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