The United States has condemned sanctions that several Western allied governments have imposed on two Israeli cabinet ministers for inciting violence in the West Bank.

The countries are the United Kingdom, Norway, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, are against Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister, Bazalel Smotrich.

A statement by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, condemned the sanctions imposed on the two sitting cabinet ministers, saying it did not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, bring all the hostages home and put an end the war.

Rubio said they rejected any notion of equivalence and that Hamas was a terrorist organisation that committed unspeakable atrocities.

He said he wanted to remind their “partners” not to forget who the real enemy was and urged a reversal of the decision while saying the US stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel.

The five nations earlier said they had engaged with the Israeli Government extensively on the issue, yet settler violence continued with encouragement and impunity.

Meanwhile, the US last week again vetoed a United States Security Council draft resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The other 14 Council members, including the other four permanent members, voted in favour of what would have been a legally binding text.

US vetoes UN Security Council demand for Gaza ceasefire: