“These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war” in Gaza, Rubio said in a statement.
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway also imposed fresh measures against the ministers, as the Israeli government faces growing international criticism over the conduct of its conflict with Hamas.
Ben Gvir and Smotrich “have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights,“ the foreign ministers of the five countries said in a joint statement.
A UK government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Canada and Australia had also imposed sanctions, while Norway and New Zealand had implemented travel bans only.
‘Horrendous language’
Both have drawn criticism for their hard-line stance on the Gaza war and comments about settlements in the occupied West Bank, the other Palestinian territory.
Last month, he said Gaza would be “entirely destroyed” and that civilians would “start to leave in great numbers to third countries.”
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the pair had used “horrendous extremist language” and that he would “encourage the Israeli government to disavow and condemn that language.”
“Rather, the travel bans are targeted at two individuals who are using their leadership positions to actively undermine peace and security and remove prospects for a two-state solution,“ he said in a statement.
The UK foreign ministry said in its statement that “extremist settlers have carried out over 1,900 attacks against Palestinian civilians since January last year.”
“Measures today cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza where Israel must uphold international humanitarian law,“ the ministry said.
Britain had already suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel last month and summoned Israel’s ambassador over the conduct of the war.
It also announced financial restrictions and travel bans on several prominent settlers, as well as two illegal outposts and two organizations accused of backing violence against Palestinian communities.
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