Palestinian Ambassador Welcomes British Government Sanctions Against Israeli Minister

Conditions in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. (Source: WAFA)

Palestinian Ambassador to Britain Husam Zomlot on Tuesday welcomed the UK Government's decision to impose sanctions on two Israeli right-wing ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Britain, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have imposed sanctions on the two ministers because they are considered to have sparked violence against the Palestinian people.

"We welcome the UK Government's decision to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. This is a long-delayed and necessary step to promote justice and accountability," Ambassador Zomlot wrote on X, launching WAFA June 11.

"Although this individual appointment is a significant step forward, the Israeli government, led by a prime minister sought by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, remains free from accountability," he added.

Therefore, he called on Britain to "implement sanctions across governments and full arms embargoes against the Israeli government, in line with international law and Britain, including the ICJ Advisory Opinion July 2024."

"Finally, today's announcement, although welcomed, must be accompanied by a "not a substitute" to fulfill the British Government's promise to support the determination of the Palestinian people's own destiny," he concluded, calling for "Once again for the government to recognize the Palestinian state at the United Nations next week."

The United States and Israel criticized the imposition of sanctions imposed on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.

Separately, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong the sanctions freeze assets and impose travel bans on Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, both West Bank settlers.

"We, along with other countries and the wider international community, believe that we can only see peace in the Middle East as we dream of two countries and when both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security," he explained in a television interview with Seven.