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UK sanctions two Israeli ministers as West ramps up pressure over Gaza war
- The UK has sanctioned Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
- Ben-Gvir, the security minister, and Smotrich, the finance minister, will face a travel ban and asset freeze.
- The UK and other Western nations are increasing pressure on Israel's government amid the Gaza war; Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the two senior Israelis had incited "serious abuses of Palestinian human rights".
- Israeli foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa'ar called the sanctions against the elected officials "outrageous".
- Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, members of right-wing parties, have been criticised for their hardline stance on the war, with Smotrich opposing aid to Gaza and Ben-Gvir advocating for resettlement of Gaza's population.