UK, allies sanction Israeli ministers over incitement, U.S. support for two-state solution frays
ALBAWABA- The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway have jointly imposed sanctions on two far-right Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinian communities. Also Read Israeli navy carries out its first attack on Yemen
In a coordinated statement released on Friday, the five countries cited "repeated incitements of extremist violence and gross violations of Palestinian human rights" as grounds for the punitive measures.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasized the urgency of de-escalation, stating, 'We will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.'
He added that settler violence and ongoing settlement expansion are jeopardizing the already fragile prospects of a two-state solution.
'We have taken action to hold Ben-Gvir and Smotrich accountable for their incitement and extremist rhetoric,' Cameron said. His comments were echoed by the foreign ministers of Australia, New Zealand, and Norway, who reiterated their commitment to a peaceful resolution grounded in the two-state framework.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dismissed the sanctions as foreign interference, declaring, 'Britain once tried to prevent us from settling in our homeland, and we will not allow it again. We are determined to build.'
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded defiantly, saying, 'We defeated the Pharaoh of Egypt, and we will defeat Keir Starmer too,' referencing the UK Labour leader in a pointed rebuke of the British sanctions. Ben-Gvir also lashed out at the measures, doubling down on his controversial stance. Also Read 40-minute Trump-Netanyahu call triggers Israeli security talks
Meanwhile, criticism of Israel's actions continues to grow in Europe. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre denounced the 'completely unacceptable violations of international law currently taking place in Gaza,' warning that Israeli policies are undermining peace and security in the region.
In a related development, Bloomberg cited the U.S. ambassador to Israel expressing doubt over Washington's continued support for a Palestinian state. According to the report, the ambassador questioned whether establishing such a state in the West Bank remains a U.S. foreign policy priority, suggesting it might be sought 'elsewhere in the region.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ammon
31 minutes ago
- Ammon
United Nations to vote to demand immediate Gaza ceasefire
Ammon News - The United Nations General Assembly will vote on Thursday on a draft resolution that demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza after the United States vetoed a similar effort in the Security Council last week. The 193-member General Assembly is likely to adopt the text with overwhelming support, diplomats say, despite Israel lobbying countries this week against taking part in what it called a "politically-motivated, counter-productive charade." General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry weight as a reflection of the global view on the war. Previous demands by the body for an end to the war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas have been ignored. Unlike the U.N. Security Council, no country has a veto in the General Assembly. Thursday's vote also comes ahead of a U.N. conference next week that aims to reinvigorate an international push for a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. The United States has urged countries not to attend. In a note seen by Reuters, the U.S. warned that "countries that take anti-Israel actions on the heels of the conference will be viewed as acting in opposition to U.S. foreign policy interests and could face diplomatic consequences." The U.S. last week vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that also demanded an "immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire" and unhindered aid access in Gaza, arguing it would undermine U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire. The other 14 countries on the council voted in favor of the draft as a humanitarian crisis grips the enclave of more than 2 million people, where the U.N. warns famine looms and aid has only trickled in since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade last month. The draft resolution to be voted on by the General Assembly on Thursday demands the release of hostages held by Hamas, the return of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It demands unhindered aid access and "strongly condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare and the unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians ... of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supply and access." "This is both false and defamatory," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon wrote in a letter to U.N. member states, sent on Tuesday and seen by Reuters. Danon described the General Assembly draft resolution as an "immensely flawed and harmful text," urging countries not to take part in what he said was a "farce" that undermines hostage negotiations and fails to condemn Hamas. In October 2023 the General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce in Gaza with 120 votes in favor. In December 2023, 153 countries voted to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Then in December last year the body demanded - with 158 votes in favor - an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. Reuters
Al Bawaba
12 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Egypt rebuffs Israeli pressure, reaffirms support for Gaza as aid Convoy advances
Published June 11th, 2025 - 05:36 GMT The Soumoud convoy, comprised of over 100 vehicles and thousands of volunteers from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt, began its journey on Monday. ALBAWABA- In response to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's call for Egypt to block protesters and prevent a North African aid convoy from reaching Gaza, Egypt has firmly reiterated its commitment to Palestinian rights and its own sovereign guidelines for border access. Also Read Israeli assaults kill 80, wound hundreds in Gaza since morning The Israeli minister reportedly instructed the army to prevent the entry of the large grassroots convoy, known as Soumoud, Arabic for "steadfastness", which departed from Tunis earlier this week intending to reach the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid and protest the Israeli blockade. In a detailed statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry rejected external pressure and emphasized its consistent position against the ongoing Israeli siege and aggression in Gaza. 'Egypt welcomes international and regional positions that support Palestinian rights and reject the siege, starvation, and systematic Israeli violations,' the statement read. It reaffirmed Cairo's efforts to end the assault on Gaza and alleviate the suffering of over two million Palestinians. ⚡️🇪🇬BREAKING: Statement by Egypt's MFA:'Regulatory Guidelines for Visiting the Border Area Adjacent to the Gaza Strip The Arab Republic of Egypt welcomes international and regional—official and popular—positions supporting Palestinian rights and rejecting the siege,… — Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) June 11, 2025 However, Egypt underscored the need for foreign delegations, governmental or otherwise, wishing to visit border areas like Arish or the Rafah crossing to follow formal regulatory procedures. These include prior coordination through Egyptian embassies or foreign diplomatic missions in Cairo. Also Read Tunisian pro-Palestine convoy departs for Gaza on land Egypt clarified, 'These guidelines exist to ensure the safety of all visitors given the sensitive and volatile conditions near the Gaza border.' The ministry stressed that any uncoordinated attempts to access these areas would not be recognized or allowed. The Soumoud convoy, comprised of over 100 vehicles and thousands of volunteers from Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Egypt, began its journey on Monday. The convoy aims to cross into Gaza via Egypt's Rafah crossing after traveling through Libya and into Cairo. Organizers say their mission is both humanitarian and symbolic, drawing international attention to Gaza's blockade while delivering life-saving supplies. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Jordan News
17 hours ago
- Jordan News
Ben Gvir Storms Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound Again Amid International Condemnation - Jordan News
Ben Gvir Storms Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound Again Amid International Condemnation Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound once again on Wednesday, under heavy police protection and without prior public announcement, according to a statement by the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem. اضافة اعلان The Waqf confirmed that Ben Gvir entered the mosque courtyards accompanied by Israeli police officers. This marks yet another of his repeated incursions into the sacred site, despite widespread condemnation from Arab and Islamic countries. Such visits by senior Israeli officials are typically pre-approved by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since taking office at the end of 2022, Ben Gvir has carried out multiple high-profile visits to the site, which is considered the third holiest in Islam and a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His most recent prior incursion was on May 27, when he entered the compound alongside government officials, Knesset members, and over 2,000 Israeli settlers, coinciding with Jerusalem Day—the anniversary of Israel's 1967 occupation of East Jerusalem, as marked on the Hebrew calendar. That event drew strong Palestinian and Arab denunciations. Ben Gvir's latest action comes just one day after the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway imposed sanctions on him and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in response to their repeated incitement to violence against Palestinians. The sanctions include asset freezes and entry bans in the respective countries, further escalating international criticism of the Israeli government's far-right ministers. Notably, Israel began allowing settler incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound in 2003, despite ongoing opposition from the Islamic Waqf, which administers the site. – (Anadolu Agency)
