The United Kingdom and several of its allies sanctioned two far-right Israeli ministers on Tuesday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, over "their repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian communities" in Gaza, and in the occupied West Bank.
UK Foreign Secretery David Lammy said in a joint statement along with the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway that the decision was the "only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region."
"Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights," he said.
"These actions are not acceptable. This is why we have taken action now - to hold those responsible to account.
"We will strive to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution," he added.
