U.S. Condemns Sanctions Imposed on Israeli Ministers: “Do Not Forget Who the Real Enemy Is”

Overview of Recent Sanctions

The United States government has condemned the recent sanctions imposed by five countries on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The nations-Britain, Canada, Norway, Australia, and New Zealand-prohibited the ministers from entering their territories in a symbolic move that is expected to impact Israel’s international image.

U.S. Officials Respond

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the actions taken by these countries during a statement made on Tuesday. He asserted that such sanctions would not contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire, releasing hostages, or ending the ongoing conflict. Rubio emphasized, “We reject any idea of comparison. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has committed unimaginable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the residents of Gaza from living in peace.”

He reiterated the U.S. commitment to Israel, stating, “America stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel,” and called for the sanctions to be lifted.

Implications of the Sanctions

As part of the sanctions, Ben Gvir and Smotrich are banned from entering the countries and financial institutions in these nations are barred from providing them servstarts. This measure parallels sanctions placed on Russian public figures following the invasion of Ukraine. However, both ministers do not own assets in the UK and have not expressed intent to visit the country; thus, the sanctions appear to hold primarily symbolic weight, reflecting a deepening strain on Israel’s global image.

While similar sanctions had been considered by the Biden administration against both ministers, they were not implemented.

Controversial Statements

In light of the sanctions, a report published by the British newspaper The Times detailed several controversial remarks made by Smotrich, including his declaration during a conference that he would not allow humanitarian aid into Gaza if it were at risk of falling into Hamas’s hands, “not even a grain of wheat.” Furthermore, he remarked last month that his vision of victory would be “when Gaza is completely destroyed, its citizens concentrated south of the Morg border, and starting to leave in large numbers to third countries.”

Ben Gvir has also faced scrutiny for his calls to “encourage voluntary immigration” of Gaza residents and for advocating the establishment of a synagogue on the Temple Mount.

International Reactions

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy previously condemned the statements made by the two ministers, labeling them as “monstrous” during a parliamentary discussion. He acknowledged that the UK was prepared to impose sanctions, revealing, “We have entered a new dark phase in this conflict. The Netanyahu government plans to displace Gazans from their homes to a corner in southern Gaza while allowing them only a small portion of the aid they desperately need.”

He characterized Smotrich’s comments as promoting extremism and stated, “We must call these things what they are: this is extremism, it is dangerous, it is abhorrent, it is monstrous, and I condemn them in the strongest terms.”

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community remains watchful of public statements and governmental actions by leaders in the region