Source: foxnews.com
Image content: The image shows three men in suits standing together at night, appearing to be in a formal or official setting. Behind them are multiple flags of the United States and Israel, and two of the men are gesturing as if discussing or pointing something out.
Summary
Five U.S. allies—the U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway—imposed sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting extremist violence, advocating settlement expansion, and undermining a two-state solution amid the Gaza and West Bank crises. The move reflects rising international frustration over settler attacks and humanitarian conditions, while the United States publicly rejected the sanctions as counterproductive to ceasefire and hostage negotiations and insisted there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. Israeli officials condemned the measures, vowed a response, and framed the actions as emboldening Hamas, deepening diplomatic rifts among Western partners over policy toward Israel’s conduct in the conflict.
Key Points
- U.K., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway sanctioned Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for incitement and settlement advocacy.
- Sanctions include travel bans and potential asset freezes tied to West Bank violence and Gaza humanitarian concerns.
- The U.S. rejected the sanctions, arguing they hinder ceasefire and hostage efforts and stressing Hamas’s culpability.
- Israeli leaders condemned the move, promised a response, and said it emboldens Hamas.
- The episode underscores widening transatlantic and allied divisions over Israel’s wartime policies.