LONDON (TIP): British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said October 16 that the government was considering sanctions against far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Asked in parliament if the government would sanction the two officials, Starmer said: “We are looking at that because there are obviously abhorrent comments along with other really concerning activity in the West Bank.”
National Security Minister Ben Gvir and Smotrich, who is finance minister, are vocal supporters of settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
Smotrich has also triggered international uproar by suggesting it would be justified to starve two million Gazans to free Israeli hostages in the Palestinian territory.
After Starmer’s comments, Smotrich remained defiant, vowing to fight Israel‘s enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran while working to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“No threat will stop me from doing what is right and moral for the citizens of Israel,” Smotrich posted on X.
Earlier this week, former foreign secretary David Cameron revealed that the previous Conservative government had been “working on” sanctions against the “extreme” politicians.
Starmer’s Labour government announced separate sanctions Tuesday against seven Israeli settler outposts and organisations.
Israeli settler violence and military raids have intensified in the occupied territory following October 7, after Israel launched its war on Gaza.
Pointing to the “dire” humanitarian situation in Gaza, Starmer also called for Israel to “take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties, to allow aid into Gaza in much greater volume”.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy meanwhile announced that Britain, France and Algeria had called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council after UN reports that “barely any food has entered” North Gaza in the last two weeks. (AFP)