EU's Borrell calls for Israeli ministers to face sanctions over 'incitement to war crimes'

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are criticised for comments, with Gaza ceasefire talks set to resume this week

EU foreign affairs minister Josep Borrell has said sanctions 'must be on our agenda'. EPA

EU foreign affairs minister Josep Borrell called for sanctions to be imposed on Israeli ministers for “incitement to war crimes”, after far-right members of the coalition government said aid to Gaza should be blocked and claimed the starvation of two million people in the enclave could be justified.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir suggested last week that cutting off aid to Gaza was better than striking a “surrender” deal with Hamas, as Israel prepares to resume talks on a ceasefire on August 15.

Earlier in the week, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested it might be “justified and moral” to starve to death all Gazans until Israeli hostages are released.

"While the world pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, Ben-Gvir calls for cutting fuel and aid to civilians. Like Smotrich's sinister statements, this is an incitement to war crimes," Mr Borrell said on X. "Sanctions must be on our EU agenda."

His call comes as an increasing number of states threaten to impose sanctions on senior Israeli officials over their conduct during the Gaza war.

Several countries, including the US, have announced sanctions related to settler violence in the occupied West Bank, with the move hitting individual Israeli citizens and settler organisations, as pressure grows to include senior Israeli politicians, including members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

“If we cut off their fuel, within a week [Hamas] would be on their knees. And if we stop the [aid], within two weeks they would be on their knees,” Mr Ben-Gvir said during a radio interview. “So why are we going to do a deal, especially such an irresponsible deal?”

Mr Ben-Gvir and Mr Smotrich are considered to be among the ministers most likely to face sanctions. The White House discussed such a move last month during a National Security Council meeting, Axios reported.

US President Joe Biden rejected the idea, saying elected politicians in "democratic countries" should not face sanctions, an American source said in the report.

Mr Ben-Gvir and Mr Smotrich are senior figures on the furthest fringes of the settler movement and continue to advocate more land grabs in Palestine.

As National Security Minister, Mr Ben-Gvir is widely considered to be responsible for Israeli police failing to enforce the law against settlers commit violence against Palestinians, a problem that has worsened since the start of the Gaza war on October 7.

Mr Smotrich has used his position as a Finance Minister, as well as a secondary role within the Defence Ministry, to advance settlements, including a plan in June to build 5,000 homes on occupied land.

Both ministers oppose a ceasefire in Gaza, where about 39,900 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, health authorities in the enclave said.

Ceasefire talks are expected to resume this week, but there is little hope of a breakthrough in the months-long mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas.