Britain has sparked a major diplomatic row with Israel after sanctioning two of Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right ministers over the war in Gaza.

Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who belong to ultra-nationalist parties in the governing coalition, have been hit with a travel ban and asset freeze, the Foreign Office said today.

Both have been criticised for their hardline stance on the war in Gaza, with Mr Smotrich campaigning against allowing aid into Gaza to help starving civilians, while Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza’s people to be expelled and resettled elsewhere.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said they had been ‘inciting violence against Palestinian people for months and months and months’ and ‘have been encouraging egregious abuses of human rights’. 

The Uk action has been taken in conjunction with along with Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. 

But the decision triggered anger in Tel Aviv, with foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar saying it was ‘outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures’.

He said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that an Israeli response would be discussed at a meeting early next week. 

Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (above) and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who belong to far-right parties in the governing coalition, have been hit with a travel ban and asset freeze, the Foreign Office said today.

Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (above) and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who belong to far-right parties in the governing coalition, have been hit with a travel ban and asset freeze, the Foreign Office said today.

Both have been criticised for their hardline stance on the war in Gaza, with Mr Smotrich (above) campaigning against allowing aid into Gaza to help starving civilians, while Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be expelled and resettled elsewhere.

Both have been criticised for their hardline stance on the war in Gaza, with Mr Smotrich (above) campaigning against allowing aid into Gaza to help starving civilians, while Mr Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza’s people to be expelled and resettled elsewhere.

In January 2024 Smotrich accused ‘two million’ Palestinians living in Gaza of having the ‘desire to slaughter and rape Jews’.

The head of the Religious Zionism party said Israel should ‘encourage’ the territory’s approximately 2.4 million Palestinians to relocate to other countries – with reports suggesting Israel has held talks with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Last August Ben-Gvir led a crowd that entered Jerusalem’s most holy site in a pilgrimage seen by Muslims as provocative.

His visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound – known to Jews as the Temple Mount – launched a fresh challenge to rules covering one of the most sensitive sites in the Middle East – with tensions over the compound fuelling violence before.

One supporter yelled a Jewish prayer, which is not permitted under the longstanding arrangement in place at the site meant to ease regional tensions. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said the two should have been sanctioned months ago.

‘Their calls for the forced displacement and dispossession of Palestinians are utterly abhorrent, and it’s right that they will now face consequences,’ he said.

‘Liberal Democrats have been calling for these sanctions since last February. It’s disappointing that the Conservative Government refused and Labour took so long to act.

‘The antidote to the extremism of ministers like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich must be to officially recognise the independent state of Palestine. The Government should take this vital step at next week’s summit – rejecting extremism, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to self-determination, and giving both Israelis and Palestinians hope of a lasting peace.’

Dame Emily Thornberry , chairwoman of the foreign affairs committee, has said the Government is doing the ‘right thing’ with sanctions, adding: ‘This must be a precursor to recognising a Palestinian state next week – not an alternative to it.’

The UK and its allies have increased pressure on Israel in recent months amid ongoing aid shortages in Gaza, as well as suggestions it could launch a new large-scale offensive into the territory.

Reports suggest only scarce amounts of aid are making their way into the hands of Gazans, amid a new aid initiative backed by the US and Israel, instead of the previous UN-run programme.

The slow flow of food and medicines has prompted warnings of famine and starvation among the territory’s population.

In May, Foreign Secretary David Lammy paused negotiations towards a UK trade deal with Israel as the Government sought to pressure it to abandon its planned offensive into Gaza.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, France’s president Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s prime minister Mark Carney also wrote a joint statement last month warning that Israel’s leaders risked ‘breaching International Humanitarian Law’, and calling for more aid to be allowed into Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu responded by claiming the three leaders were on the ‘wrong side’ of history.

In September last year, the Government halted 30 out of around 350 arms sales licences to Israel, for fear they may be used for war crimes.

Ministers insist that this means F-35 fighter jets used by Israel no longer receive replacement parts from the UK, and no UK-made bombs or ammunition are used in Gaza.

Lord David Cameron has previously said he considered sanctioning both Israeli ministers in his final days as foreign secretary in Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government.

Displaced Palestinians walk past the ruins of destroyed buildings along the Gaza shoreline

Displaced Palestinians walk past the ruins of destroyed buildings along the Gaza shoreline

It came as it was revealed UK civil servants have been told to quit if they feel the UK has not been tough enough with Israel over its conduct in the war, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead.

The Foreign Office’s two most senior officials, Sir Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer, responded to a letter by 300 staff raising concerns about Israel’s conduct.

The staff letter, seen by the BBC, was sent to Foreign Secretary David Lammy last month and warned of ‘complicity’ in Israel’s actions.

It also questioned continued British arms sales to the country and what they branded a ‘stark… disregard for international law’ by Israel.

In their response to the letter, Sir Oliver and Mr Dyer told staff their ‘ultimate recourse is to resign’ if they disagree with Government policy.

They insisted they wanted to see a ‘healthy challenge’ to policy but said it was up to civil servants to deliver on the will of the Government.

The senior officials’ response sparked a furious backlash from trade union bosses.

Fran Heathcote, of the PCS union, said it was ‘simply reprehensible’ to suggest staff should quit if they are ‘uncomfortable with what they are being asked to do’.

The staff letter, which follows several other similar missives to civil service chiefs, was signed on May 16, it was reported.

The signatories said: ‘In July 2024, staff expressed concern about Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law and potential UK Government complicity.

‘In the intervening period, the reality of Israel’s disregard for international law has become more stark.’

A letter by 300 Foreign Office, sent to Foreign Secretary David Lammy last month, warned of 'complicity' in Israel's actions

A letter by 300 Foreign Office, sent to Foreign Secretary David Lammy last month, warned of ‘complicity’ in Israel’s actions

Sir Oliver Robbins, who previously oversaw Brexit negotiations under ex-PM Theresa May, is now the most senior official at the Foreign Office

Sir Oliver Robbins, who previously oversaw Brexit negotiations under ex-PM Theresa May, is now the most senior official at the Foreign Office

They went on to list the killing by Israeli forces of 15 aid workers in March, and the blockade on aid into Gaza, among their concerns.

They added that ‘supported by the Trump administration, the Israeli government has made explicit plans for the forcible transfer of Gaza’s population’.

In their reply, Sir Oliver and Mr Dyer said: ‘If your disagreement with any aspect of Government policy or action is profound your ultimate recourse is to resign from the civil service. This is an honourable course.’

The Government has repeatedly warned that Israel is ‘at risk’ of breaching international law with its actions in Gaza.

Mr Lammy halted 30 out of around 350 arms sales licences to Israel in September last year, for fear they may be used for war crimes.

But MPs critical of Israel’s actions have called on ministers to go further, and to halt all UK arms sales to the country.

Ms Heathcote said: ‘The response from Oliver Robbins and Nick Dyer to the concerns of staff in FCDO is consistent with the attitude displayed by civil service management all along, in that it is hopelessly inadequate.

‘There has been little effort to address our members’ concerns and no effort to justify the UK Government’s interactions with the government of Israel, despite our genuine concerns over its potential failure to comply with its obligations under international and domestic law.’

She added: ‘As for the suggestion that civil servants may wish to resign if they are uncomfortable with what they are being asked to do – this is simply reprehensible.

‘It is a dereliction of duty and a startling ignorance of the provisions of the civil service code, which require all civil servants to act in accordance with the law, including international law.’

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: ‘Since day one, this Government has rigorously applied international law in relation to the war in Gaza.

‘One of our first acts in Government was to suspend export licences that could be used by the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza.

‘We have successfully implemented the suspension decision and continue to refuse all relevant licence applications.

‘We have suspended direct exports of F-35 parts for use by Israel, and we categorically do not export any bombs or ammunition which could be used in Gaza.

‘We have also suspended negotiations on a free trade agreement, while supporting humanitarian efforts through the restoration of funding to UNRWA, and the commitment of over £230 million in assistance across the past two financial years.’

They added: ‘It is the job of civil servants to deliver on the policies of the government of the day and to provide professional, impartial advice as set out in the civil service code.

‘There are systems in place which allow them to raise concerns if they have them.’

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