Keir Starmer
Keir StarmerREUTERS/Simon Dawson

Keir Starmer was asked by Ed Davey if he's going to sanction Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich, for saying that starving 2 million people in Gaza may be 'justified & moral’ and the National Security Minister Ben Gvir, who called the settlers who killed a 19 year old in the West Bank 'heroes.'

Starmer responded, "We are looking at that, because they're obviously abhorrant comments, along with other concerning activity in the West Bank. Across the region, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, the death toll has surpassed 42,000 and access to basic services is becoming much harder. Israel must take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties, to allow aid into Gaza in much greater volume. Along with France, the UK will convene an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to address this."

The chairman of Otzma Yehudit, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, responded, "Just as before the establishment of the Jewish state, the British did what they could to thwart our efforts. Now they are continuing to do so after its establishment and in the midst of an existential war. The sea is the same sea, and the British are the same British. The British must internalize that the days of the Mandate are over. In any case, they do not scare me, and I will continue to act in accordance with the supreme national interests of the State of Israel only, and for the sake of the country's residents, our soldiers, our policemen and our prison guards. Down with the White Paper!".

Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded, “The British Mandate ended and with it the White Paper, but the hypocrisy has stayed the same hypocrisy. I will continue to do everything in my power to promote a policy of eliminating Nazi terrorism from Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state that would endanger the existence of the State of Israel and the security of the Jewish people.”

"No threat will prevent me from doing the right and moral thing for the citizens of Israel. If the British want to turn their noses up at my Zionist policy, then they will have a crooked nose," Smotrich said.