US Secretary Rubio Condemns Western Sanctions on Israeli Ministers

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly condemned the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Norway, and New Zealand on two Israeli cabinet ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians. Rubio argued that these sanctions do not support U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, end the conflict in Gaza, or secure the release of hostages, urging the reversal of these measures. He emphasized that the United States stands firmly with Israel against Hamas, labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization responsible for atrocities and ongoing violence. The sanctioned ministers are part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and have been criticized internationally for their hardline positions and rhetoric regarding Palestinian territories. The five sanctioning countries condemned the officials for extremist rhetoric and alleged human rights abuses, while Rubio rejected any equivalence between Israel’s government and Hamas. This disagreement highlights a diplomatic rift between the U.S. and its allies over how to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.