The UK is drawing up plans with other countries to impose sanctions on key members of the Israeli cabinet over West Bank rights abuses, The Times reported.
According to the publication, the blacklist includes the Jewish state's finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, defence minister Israel Katz and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
On May 20, London had already imposed sanctions on seven Israeli individuals and entities. The restrictions, which include a ban on entry to the UK and an asset freeze, were extended to Zohar Sabah, Harel David Libby and Daniela Weiss, who live in the “occupied Palestinian territories“. London accused them of “threats and committing acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians“. The West Bank settlements of Neria and Cocos, the settlement organization Nachala and the construction company Libi Construction and Infrastructure were also affected by the restrictions.
The UK later announced that it had suspended negotiations with Israel on a free trade agreement due to the new Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.
On May 18, Israel announced the start of expanded military operations in northern and southern Gaza as part of a new large-scale ground operation “Gideon's Chariots“. On May 19, the UN confirmed that Israeli authorities had allowed the organization to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, noting that permission had been obtained for nine trucks to enter the enclave.
At the same time, the press center of the Palestinian enclave government said that in order to meet the most basic needs of its residents, about 500 trucks with humanitarian aid should arrive in the Gaza Strip every day.