By Olatunbosun Obafemi
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the decision by the UK and four allied nations to impose sanctions on two far-right Israeli Cabinet ministers, calling it counterproductive to ceasefire efforts in Gaza.
“These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war,” Rubio said in a statement on Tuesday.
The UK, alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, sanctioned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and promoting extremist rhetoric. The joint statement denounced calls for forced displacement and expanded settlements as “appalling and dangerous.”
Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, key figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, have resisted any halt in fighting and hold significant sway over the government. Both now face potential travel bans and asset freezes under the new sanctions.
Ben-Gvir responded defiantly, invoking historical persecution and saying, “We survived Pharaoh; we will also survive Keir Starmer,” in reference to the UK Labour leader. Smotrich likewise framed the sanctions as a continuation of British opposition to Jewish settlement in historic Palestine.
Rubio urged U.S. allies to “remember who the real enemy is,” calling for a reversal of the sanctions. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee echoed the sentiment, labeling the move “an incredible overreach.”
Israel’s government denounced the sanctions, warning they could embolden Hamas and complicate peace negotiations. Even centrist Israeli leaders voiced concern, with Benny Gantz calling the decision a “profound moral mistake.”
