Israel says the UK is sanctioning 2 Cabinet ministers

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel says it has been informed that the United Kingdom will sanction two of its Cabinet ministers. Two far-rght Israeli ministers and champions of Israeli settlements, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, acknowledged the sanctions on social media, and Smotrich confirmed he was the target in his post.

Smotrich, the country’s finance minister, wrote on X that he found out that Britain had decided to sanction him for obstructing the viability of a Palestinian state. “We are determined to continue building,” he said.

“We overcame Pharoah, we’ll overcome Starmer’s Wall.” Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, wrote on X.

The Speaker of the House of Commons said the British government will make a statement on the Middle East later Tuesday.