The United States has strongly condemned the sanctions imposed by several countries, including the UK, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia, on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet. The move is seen as undermining U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war in Gaza.
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the sanctions do not advance the stated goals and instead reinforce Hamas' position. "Hamas is a terrorist organization that has committed unspeakable atrocities, continues to hold innocent civilians hostage, and prevents the people of Gaza from living in peace," Mr. Rubio said.
The U.S. department of state emphasized that any equivalence between Israel's actions and those of Hamas is unfounded. The United States urges its partners not to forget that "the real enemy" is Hamas. The department also calls for the reversal of the sanctions, reaffirming the country's support for Israel.
Sanctions were imposed by the governments of UK, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia on two sitting members of the Israeli cabinet in June 2025.