The Trump administration has expressed strong opposition towards the UK, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia after these countries imposed sanctions and travel bans against Israeli officials Itamar Ben Gvir, the National Security Minister, and Bezarel Smotrich, the Finance Minister.
“These sanctions do not help the U.S.-led efforts to establish a ceasefire, recover hostages, and end the conflict,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated. “We refuse to accept any notion of equality here. Hamas is a terrorist group responsible for horrific acts, holding innocent civilians captive, and hindering peace for the people of Gaza. Our partners must not forget who the true enemy is.”
Ben Gvir supported Rubio’s remarks, stating that the U.S. administration serves as a moral guide amid the chaos created by Western nations that appease organizations like Hamas. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to combating terrorism.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also expressed gratitude to Rubio for representing a “clear moral voice,” saying that U.S. statements should guide the international community and calling out the dismissal of reality by Israel’s critics.
Saar criticized the actions of the UK, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, labeling them as “outrageous.” He warned that such moves would only strengthen Hamas’s position in negotiations and complicate ceasefire efforts.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers from the five nations accused Ben Gvir and Smotrich of inciting extremist violence and severely violating Palestinian human rights. This comes as they critique Israel’s response following the conflict that escalated on October 7.
Earlier in May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the UK, France, and Canada, accusing them of enabling Hamas after they called for an end to military actions in Gaza.
In a pointed message to leaders like President Macron and Prime Minister Carney, Netanyahu declared, “You’re siding with mass murderers and baby killers. You’re on the wrong side of humanity and history.”
Australia and New Zealand previously issued a joint statement in December 2024 regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, advocating for a ceasefire and critiquing Israel along with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
On Tuesday, Saar announced that Israel would hold a government meeting early next week to determine how best to respond to the actions against its ministers.
