U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has slammed the decision by Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Norway to sanction Israeli ministers Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, citing their “extremist rhetoric” and travel bans and asset freezes. Rubio said these measures undermine U.S.-led efforts to secure a ceasefire, bring hostages home, and focus attention on Hamas as the true enemy. He urged allied nations to reverse the sanctions and reaffirmed America’s unwavering support for Israel.
The five Western governments accuse Ben‑Gvir and Smotrich of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and calling for forced displacement and settlement expansion—actions deemed dangerous and counterproductive to the two-state solution.
Israel’s government also criticized the sanctions. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the measures “outrageous,” emphasizing that targeting elected officials threatens diplomatic norms.
Rubio argued that differentiating between Israel and Hamas is crucial—the latter is responsible for civilian suffering and hostage crises. He cautioned allies not to confuse the actions of Israeli officials with the broader mission to protect Israeli citizens and counter terrorism.
The move highlights growing friction among Western allies over how to address actions by Israeli leaders amid the broader Gaza conflict. The U.S. stands alone in defending the targeted ministers, setting up a divide in international policy.
