Five Western nations have placed sanctions on two top Israeli officials, accusing them of inciting violence in the West Bank. The move has sparked sharp backlash from Israeli leaders, who say they will not change course.
Key Facts:
- The UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway announced sanctions against Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir on Tuesday.
- The sanctions include potential asset freezes and travel bans.
- The ministers were accused of inciting violence and promoting the displacement of Palestinians.
- Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have supported settlement expansion and continuing military efforts in Gaza.
- Israel’s government called the sanctions “outrageous” and is planning a formal response.
The Rest of The Story:
The coordinated sanctions from five U.S. allies target two of Israel’s most hardline ministers, accusing them of fueling tensions through inflammatory speech and settlement policies.
The measures are tied to ongoing violence in the West Bank, where settler clashes with Palestinians have increased since the October 7 Hamas attacks.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy claimed the ministers “have been inciting violence against Palestinian people for months.”
In response, Smotrich doubled down, stating from a new settlement site: “We are determined to continue building.”
Ben-Gvir dismissed the action by mocking UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a defiant post on X.
Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir:
I'm not afraid of the sanctions; I despise the White Paper. I will continue to work for our country and our people and ensure that no humanitarian aid reaches Hamas. We survived Pharaoh, and we will survive this. pic.twitter.com/RHdICWMCI9
— SIA Media And Consulting LLC (@SIA_Media_News) June 10, 2025
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeled the move “outrageous” and said the matter is being reviewed with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The developments come as U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee signaled Washington is stepping back from pushing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, suggesting it could be located “elsewhere in the region.”
Commentary:
The push to sanction Israeli leaders over the West Bank misses the heart of the matter.
The war in Gaza did not begin with Israeli settlement expansion—it began with a barbaric assault by Hamas, followed by their refusal to release hostages.
If Hamas had returned the innocent civilians they kidnapped, the conflict might already be over.
Instead of pressuring Israel, these five countries should be pressuring Hamas.
Sanctions aimed at Israeli officials who support rebuilding their own communities only embolden the very extremists who started the war.
The so-called international defenders of peace have gone quiet on the hostages—why?
Europe continues to shout about a two-state solution while ignoring the reality on the ground.
Hamas doesn’t want peace; it wants Israel erased from the map.
Forcing Israel to live beside an entity like that is absurd, especially when Europe won’t tolerate a neighbor like Russia pushing into Ukraine.
And let’s not forget—Israel exists today because Britain handed over the land in 1948.
Why does the UK now believe it gets to dictate internal Israeli policy?
If these nations truly cared about peace, they would work toward relocating Palestinians to a safer, neutral location—not pressuring Israel to surrender more land to terrorists.
The U.S. appears to finally be taking a stand.
Ambassador Huckabee’s remarks reflect a growing understanding: a two-state solution built next to a radicalized population will never lead to peace.
The only workable plan begins with defeating terror and protecting Israel’s right to exist—fully, securely, and within its historical homeland.
The Bottom Line:
Western nations are sanctioning Israeli ministers while remaining largely silent on Hamas’s refusal to release hostages.
The longer they ignore that core issue, the more they reward bad actors and punish self-defense.
The time has come to stand with Israel’s right to secure its land and future, not bow to outdated diplomatic illusions.
Read Next
– Texas Just Took Away A Major Perk Illegal Aliens Have Been Enjoying For Decades
– New Poll Shows Exactly What The American People Think Of Trump’s Deportation Program
– Crazed Dem Ripped For Insane Video Message Demanding ICE Leave Los Angeles Immediately
– Maxine Waters Spills the Beans, Demands LA Rioters Be Given Citizenship
– California Governor Newsom to Sue Trump Admin To Halt Deployment of National Guard in Los Angeles