LONDON — The U.K. is considering imposing sanctions on two extremist Israeli ministers, Keir Starmer confirmed Wednesday.
The prime minister said the government would examine the possibility of sanctioning two far-right Israeli government ministers — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir — over past “abhorrent” remarks by the pair.
Smotrich said in August that the starvation of two million people in Gaza might be “justified and moral” in order to free Israeli hostages. Ben-Gvir praised settlers suspected of killing a Palestinian as “heroes,” and backed protests against aid convoys reaching Gaza.
The PM repeated his refrain for aid to be allowed into Gaza in far greater volume and for the U.N. given the freedom to operate within the territory.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said later that sanctions were regularly kept under review. “We’ll look into where it is appropriate to go further,” the spokesperson said, adding “We will continue to hold to account those responsible for this violence.”
During the ruling Labour party’s annual conference in September, Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested sanctions against the ministers could be a possibility. He told a fringe meeting: “If we have to act, we will act,” adding he was in discussion with G7 ministers about the matter.
Former Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister David Cameron disclosed Tuesday the last, Conservative government had been working on sanctions against the two “extreme” ministers before July’s general election put the plans on hold.
“I couldn’t do them during the election period because I think it was too much of a political act was the advice I received,” he told the BBC.
The U.K. imposed new sanctions Tuesday targeting three outposts including Tirzah Valley Farm Outpost and four organizations.
Lammy said the “extremist Israeli settlers” had perpetrated “heinous abuses of human rights” against Palestinians and the Israeli government allowed “impunity to flourish.”
