Five Western allies turned their back on Israel Tuesday, imposing unprecedented sanctions on democratically elected cabinet ministers in a coordinated attack that prompted swift condemnation from the Trump administration and immediate retaliation from Jerusalem.

Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway announced asset freezes and travel bans against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of “inciting violence against Palestinians” in Judea and Samaria.

“Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have incited extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights. Extremist rhetoric advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements is appalling and dangerous,” their joint statement reads. “We have engaged the Israeli Government on this issue extensively, yet violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.”

Within hours, Smotrich directed his office to cancel banking waivers that allow Israeli and Palestinian Authority financial institutions to cooperate. Smotrich learned of the sanctions while inaugurating a new Jewish settlement near Hebron—timing he called perfect.

“Britain has already tried once to prevent us from settling the cradle of our homeland, and they cannot do it again,” he said.  “We are determined, God willing, to continue building,”

Ben-Gvir matched Smotrich’s defiance with his own historical reference, comparing the move to the UK’s “White Paper” enacted in 1939 that limited Jewish immigration to what was then British Mandate Palestine.

“Shame on the White Paper. We got through Pharaoh, we’ll get through Starmer’s wall too,” Ben-Gvir declared, referring to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “”I will continue to act for our country, for our people and I will continue to act and make sure that they do not let humanitarian aid into Hamas.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the government will hold a “special meeting” early next week “to decide on our response to this unacceptable decision.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also issued a sharp rebuke on behalf of the Trump administration.

“The United States condemns the sanctions imposed by the governments of United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet,” Rubio stated. “These sanctions do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war.”

Ben-Gvir temporarily left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in January over concerns that a ceasefire at the time would allow Hamas to regroup, rejoining after the IDF resumed military operations in March. He has advocated for what he calls “voluntary emigration” of Gaza residents, arguing that Israel should “encourage voluntary migration of Gazans to countries around the world” as a humanitarian solution.

Smotrich, who also serves on Netanyahu’s security cabinet, has long championed the formal annexation of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. In May, he outlined his vision for Gaza’s future, saying victory would mean the territory is “destroyed” as a terrorist stronghold while civilians are relocated to a “humanitarian zone” in the south or voluntarily resettle in third countries willing to accept them.