₦airaland Forum

The United Kingdom, Canada and other allies announced sanctions Tuesday on two hardline Israeli government ministers for repeatedly “inciting violence against Palestinians,” in a stark joint move that comes amid growing Western condemnation of Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will face a travel ban and an asset freeze, the UK government said.

Ben Gvir and Smotrich both lead far-right political parties that help keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fragile government coalition afloat. Both men have faced criticism for their inflammatory comments about the occupied West Bank as well as their positions on the war in Gaza.


The sanctions are being jointly implemented by Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the UK, according to a joint statement by the five countries’ foreign ministers.

“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous,” the statement added. “We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.”

The sanctions imposed by the five Western nations represent a break in policy with the United States. While European and Commonwealth allies have increasingly put pressure on Netanyahu’s government, the Trump administration has repeatedly reaffirmed the US-Israel alliance. The US has also called for the conflict in Gaza to end, but last week, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

While the sanctions are in relation to the West Bank, the Western allies’ joint statement added that “of course this cannot be seen in isolation from the catastrophe in Gaza. We continue to be appalled by the immense suffering of civilians, including the denial of essential aid.”

Smotrich and Ben Gvir both live in settlements in the West Bank, which Palestinians and the vast majority of the international community hold as part of a future Palestinian state.

Last month, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy slammed Smotrich’s comments on the possible destruction and cleansing of Gaza, telling British lawmakers: “It is extremism. It is dangerous. It is repellent. It is monstrous, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”

At the time, the UK paused trade talks with Israel and imposed sanctions on West Bank settlers, but stopped short of sanctioning the far-right Israeli minister.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/10/uk/uk-sanctions-israel-ministers-smotrich-ben-gvir-intl
CC: Seun, osystein, HumbledbYGrace

A senior official in former president Joe Biden's administration has told Sky News that he has no doubt that Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza.

Speaking to the Trump 100 podcast, Matthew Miller, who, as a state department spokesman, was the voice and face of the US government's foreign policy under Mr Biden, revealed disagreements, tensions and challenges within the former administration.

Mr Miller served as the state department spokesman from 2023 until the end of Mr Biden's presidential term. From the podium, his job was to explain and defend foreign policy decisions - from Ukraine to Gaza.

"Look, one of the things about being a spokesperson is you're not a spokesperson for yourself. You are a spokesperson for the president, the administration, and you espouse the positions of the administration. And when you're not in the administration, you can just give your own opinions."

Now out of office, he offered a candid reflection of a hugely challenging period in foreign policy and US politics.

Gaza disagreements

Asked about Gaza, he revealed there were "small and big" disagreements within the Biden administration over the US-Israeli relationship.

He continued: "And it was clear to us in that period that there was a time when our public discussion of withholding weapons from Israel, as well as the protests on college campuses in the United States, and the movement of some European countries to recognise the state of Palestine - appropriate discussions, appropriate decisions - protests are appropriate - but all of those things together were leading the leadership of Hamas to conclude that they didn't need to agree to a ceasefire, they just needed to hold out for a little bit longer, and they could get what they always wanted."

"Now, the thing that I look back on, that I will always ask questions of myself about, and I think this is true for others in government, is in that intervening period between the end of May and the middle of January [2025], when thousands of Palestinians were killed, innocent civilians who didn't want this war, had nothing to do with it, was there more that we could, could have done to pressure the Israeli government to agree to that ceasefire? I think at times there probably was," Mr Miller said.

Asked for his view on the accusation of genocide in Gaza, he said: "I don't think it's a genocide, but I think it is without a doubt true that Israel has committed war crimes."

Challenged on why he didn't make these points while in government, he said: "When you're at the podium, you're not expressing your personal opinion. You're expressing the conclusions of the United States government. The United States government had not concluded that they committed war crimes, still have not concluded [that]."

https://news.sky.com/story/former-biden-official-matthew-miller-says-he-believes-israel-has-committed-war-crimes-in-gaza-13378081

CC: Seun, osystein, HumbledbYGrace

The former prime minister of Israel Ehud Olmert has said Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza, and that “thousands of innocent Palestinians are being killed, as well as many Israeli soldiers”.

Olmert, who was the 12th prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, wrote in an opinion piece for the Israeli newspaper and website Haaretz that “the government of Israel is currently waging a war without purpose, without goals or clear planning and with no chances of success”.

He added: “Never since its establishment has the state of Israel waged such a war … The criminal gang headed by Benjamin Netanyahu has set a precedent without equal in Israel’s history in this area, too.

The former Israeli PM and former member of Likud, the same party as Netanyahu, wrote that the “pointless victims among the Palestinian population” were reaching “monstrous proportions” in recent weeks.

“Recent operations in Gaza have nothing to do with legitimate war goals,” he wrote. “This is now a private political war. Its immediate result is the transformation of Gaza into a humanitarian disaster area.”

Olmert said he had often asserted that Israel was not committing war crimes in Gaza and claimed with conviction that “in no case did a government official give orders to hit Gazan civilians indiscriminately”.

However, in recent weeks, “I’ve been no longer able to do so,” he said. “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy – knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.”

“Yes, Israel is committing war crimes,” he concluded.

In an interview with the BBC last week, Olmert described the continuing conflict as “a war without a purpose – a war without a chance of achieving anything that can save the lives of the hostages.”

His comments to the British broadcaster caused a row in Israel. The far-right parties condemned his words, which followed the Democrats party head, Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, who told the Kan national broadcaster that “a sane country does not fight against civilians, does not kill babies as a hobby, and does not give itself the aim of expelling populations”.

The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, accused Olmert and Golan of “taking an active part in a diplomatic campaign, in a propaganda war and in legal warfare against the state of Israel and the IDF”.

“While IDF troops are risking their lives against murderous terrorists seeking our annihilation, he decides to incite and stick a knife in their backs,” Kisch said.

Some Israeli media outlets have framed Olmert’s remarks as a response to far-right outrage over the resumption of aid into Gaza, and to the inflammatory rhetoric of several Israeli politicians.

On 22 May, the Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin told TV Channel 14: “The enemy is not Hamas, nor is it the military wing of Hamas.” Feiglin is a former member of the Israeli parliament.

“Every child in Gaza is the enemy. We need to occupy Gaza and settle it, and not a single Gazan child will be left there. There is no other victory.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/27/former-israeli-pm-ehud-olmert-says-his-country-is-committing-war-crimes

Cc: Seun, osystein, HumbledbYGrace

Numerouno94:
I asked one Islamic terrorists sympathizer a question which he failed to address. I asked him if Gaza would still be in existence if it was Russia Hamas had attacked on Oct 7?

There has been multiple terrorist attacks from guys from Uzbekistan and other central Asia countries in Russia, nothing happened, Russia didn't wipe them off.

Honestly speaking, Netanyahu is soft. Which leader will tolerate wat happened on Oct 7? Even France and Spain talking rubbish will likely do more if they were in the shoes of Israel. Na hypocrisy they worry most of them.

Tanx to the US for their understanding. They knw wat a terrorist is capable of because they have had experience wit them in the past. They knw terrorists are not to be pampered but totally destroyed.

This conflict didn't start on October 7th, it's got history and over the years, Palestinians have continued to lose their homes in the West Bank, have their kids jailed and killed.

Phyde:
I just dey pity our innocent soldiers. This country is not worth dieing for. You don't give terrorists a second chance. Na only Israel understand their language.

You were making sense until your last sentence.

You are a victim of PsycOp, Israel is not fighting terrorists, Israel is fighting freedom fighters, who are not fighting to create an islamic caliphate but fighting to free their country from decades of oppression and occupation.

Arrowhead71:
If your country is defending her territory against Boko Haram should we also call you and country Terrorists state

First, I’d advise you to read wide and understand the conflict.

Boko haram, a terrorist organisation fighting to create an islamic caliphate is different from Hamas who is fighting against decades of oppression and occupation by Israel.

Take 5 minutes of your time to google search this events namely Nakba, Gaza blockade and Sabra & Shatila Massacre

And mind you, there’s a reason ICC declared Netanyahu a war criminal.

Israel terrorist regime headed by the wanted war criminal Netanyahu kills Hamas freedom fighter leader Mohammed Sinwar.

The proper headline, mods should do better.

bigiyaro:
See senile dumb Nigerians berating a real president, taking proactive steps to secure his people. Very dull people, prestigious Harvard is "smart enough" to fund it's self. Nobody and no institutions is above scrutiny when it comes to securing Americans, unlike Nigerian politicians that will sell their whole community for a plate of beans. If prestigious Harvard has become an indoctrination tool in the hands of rich moslem Arabs, then it has to go.

ogmask:
Too many keyboard warriors on NL. See as dem dey bash trump like say dem even understand the kind of politics the woke leaders of Harvard dey play. Harvard , as of this moment is not an institution of learning but one of indoctrination. They have abandoned their core values for woke ideologies. Trump , once again, is spot on. [code][/code]

Typing all this English, trying to sound smart but ended up sounding clownish.

Havard, a prestigious and leader in scientific and economic research in the world is now what you now term “indoctrination or woke ground” because Trump, your lord has termed is so

Lol, Maga wannabe

Ipobfraud:
This pure arab country don’t tolerate terrorist or any affiliation, now I understand something. Pure arab countries ( Saudi arabia, qatar, uae, bahrain, kuwait oman) doesn’t allow or support terrorism. That’s why you don’t see any news of terroism in the country. Iran yemen, afghanistan iraq dominated by shia are breeding land for terrorism, that’s why shia are not considered as muslim.

I really shake my head for your level of miseducation .

Where should I start to educate you?

Is it to tell you that your so called “pure arab countries” are the major financial sponsors of terrorism or that you should understand what constitute terrorism and not what’s defined for you by the western media?

Are you aware that Al-Qaeda started in Saudi, do you even know where Osama Bin Laden was from? Do you know that the major terrorist groups (ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko haram, Al shabab etc) are Sunnis?

And the ones you called shia terrorists (Houthis, Hezbollah, Iran) are labelled so due to their opposition to either western supported groups in their countries or fighting Israel invasion?

Maybe understand how hezbollah was created and why, and how Houthis was created and why, and what they are fighting for. Have you ever seen a houthi or hezbollah doing suicide bombing anywhere or calling for islamic caliphate?

Are you aware UAE is a major sponsor of rebels in Sudan?

People have been fed tons of bullchit but things are now changing, people are seeing the truth. Get educated or else, you’d remain ignorant forever.

TheLastProphet:
Forming friendship with Iran and acting friendly with Hama's just to pepper US is never a wise decision.
Now see the result. Muslims are never your friend unless they take over your country and enslave the whole of your people.
Russia should wake up and join the rest of the world to crush this people and their death cult

Your logic isn't "logicking".

If Russia is forming friendship with Iran and Hamas freedom fighters, shouldn't that make them more safe from ISIS?
Wasn't Iran itself attacked by ISIS in January during indirect confrotation with Israel and US while supporting Hamas and Houtis? What does that tell you?

And why does ISIS never attacked Israel?. I mean ISIS even apoligises to Israel
Why did US kill Solemeini who was known to be the ISIS nightmare in the middle east?
How did US get the intel on this attack weeks ago? Didn't Israel promise Russia will pay the price for supporting Hamas soon?

Well....

obedience4:
Your thoughts are wrong
The USA invested a lot to destroy Isis when they spring up,
The USA have no political gain to used terrorist to attack Russia,
Such move could be catastrophic for both countries as that could be seen as a declaration of war

I will tell you straight up. ISIS have many factions. Some are rouge factions, and some are being controlled by the power that be to maintain power in the middle east and vulnerable countries.

If you hear that US killed an ISIS commander today, that means he's gone rouge or he is from a different faction. All these tettorist groups directly or indirectly communicates with their handlers. Who that is? Its left to you to decide

goaldynboy:
The number you are counting are soldiers (mostly unarmed women) that were killed inside Israel, the day Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on 7th October 2023 because they were taken unaware!

What do you mean by mostly unarmed women? Telling lies is your strength!

A whole base housing regular army and officers was stormed by Hamas on that day. The soldiers killed were men and maybe a few females IDF were taken hostage. Look well before you spread your lies! I'm not one of the NL la,ckeys with no access to real-time information.

The only way to make sense of your statement is to say it's a female army base (and that would be ridiculous to say the least). Please don't quote me again, you are either uninformed or just promoting disinformation.

adolfHitler1934:
I don't blame you, I blame the Aljazerra network that brainwashed you to believe their lies.
Stop watching terrorist channel so that you'll remain informed of the happenings around the world, especially Gaza.

Thanks for your advice. I will stop watching Al Jazeera and start watching the unbiased and the most balanced CNN, BBC and even Israeli channels.

Okay, thank you

smokinloud:
600 soldiers?!.
Did you get your figure from HAMAS?!.
Hamas that is begging for ceasefire day and night and even using South Africa as proxy to call for ceasefire?!.

Maybe na Sambisa forest you still dey stay. Na why

What do you know?

https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-779902 That's from the Jerusalem post. IDF itself announced over 500 casualties in December. With OSINTs videos and updates that I follow, I put current figure at 600 or 700.

Sorry, your Israeli diapers wearing army are incompetent.

elganzar:
Israel is everything I thought Russia was

How? Comparing Syria and Iraq's open air space for drones and jets to Ukraine's airspace filled with all kinds of both Soviet and Western air defences.

Why is everyone commenting same thing without critically evaluating what might be going on here?