‘US shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel’: Rubio condemns UK-led sanctions on Israeli ministers

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a firm statement on Tuesday (US time), reiterating America’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. He called the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet to question.

“These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all the hostages home, and end the war,” he said in a post on X.

Rejection the notion of equivalence, Rubio reminded them who the “real enemy” is. “Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace,” he added in his tweet. In the same breath, he urged the global governments to reverse the sanctions, while insisting that the United States “stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel.”

Israeli minister thanks Marco Rubio

Hailing the US administration as a “moral compass” while alleging other Western countries’ pro-Hamas stance, far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir wrote, “Thank you, Mr. Secretary of State! The American administration is a moral compass in the face of the confusion of some Western countries that choose to appease terrorist organizations like Hamas.”

He added, “Israel is not afraid — we will continue to fight terrorism! History will judge the Chamberlains of our time.”

Why sanctions against Israeli ministers?

Earlier this week, the UK sanctioned Israeli cabinet members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and  Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, over “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the occupied West Bank. As part of the firm decision announced by the foreign secretary, both ministers have been banned from coming into the UK. Moreover, their assets in the UK will also be frozen.

“As Palestinian communities in the West Bank continue to suffer from severe acts of violence by extremist Israeli settlers which also undermine a future Palestinian state, the UK has joined Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway in stepping up the international response,” said the Foreign Office.

Asserting that rising violence by “Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank must stop,” the office further reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Their statement also demanded “the immediate release of the remaining hostages by Hamas which can have no future role in the governance of Gaza, a surge in aid and a path to a two-state solution.”

Israel has since responded to the development: “It is outrageous that elected representatives and members of the government are subjected to these kind of measures.” According to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, the cabinet is expected to meet new week in response to what he called an “unacceptable decision.”

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