11 June 2025
The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to impose targeted sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, announced in today’s joint statement by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.
This significant step follows the ACIJ’s detailed submissions of August 2024 and January 2025 to the Australian Foreign Minister, urging her to impose sanctions on these individuals and to take concrete action to address Israel’s ongoing international crimes and systematic violence against Palestinians in the unlawfully Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
The ACIJ has consistently called on the Australian Government to align its foreign policy with its obligations under international law, including the responsibility to prevent and respond to the commission of international crimes. The imposition of sanctions against these ministers sends a clear message that Australia will not tolerate the actions of those who fuel violence and systematic human rights violations.
Australian Centre for International Justice Acting Executive Director Lara Khider said:
“We welcome the Australian Government’s decision to impose these sanctions, which is an important demonstration of Australia’s commitment to upholding international law and human rights. These measures directly respond to the compelling evidence implicating Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in inciting extremist violence and serious human rights violations against Palestinians, in parallel to their ongoing efforts to further expand and maintain illegal settlements in the OPT.”
“While this is a welcome and necessary first step, we emphasise the need for the Australian Government to take further concrete action to hold accountable those responsible for ongoing grave breaches of international law and to prevent complicity in serious human rights violations in the OPT, including through the imposition of a comprehensive two-way arms embargo on Israel. Continued military trade and cooperation only serve to reinforce Israel’s unlawful occupation and empower its military apparatus.”
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For media enquiries contact the Australian Centre for International Justice at: info@acij.org.au or +61 (0)433 950 787.
Read our submissions dated August 2024 and January 2025 and our May 2025 media release.
