Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have publicly urged the Israeli government to impose sanctions on the United Kingdom. The ministers' statements come in response to reports that the UK government is preparing to restrict trade with Israeli settlements located in the occupied Palestinian territories.

In his public remarks, Minister Smotrich suggested that Israel should expel the British ambassador. He characterized the UK government’s potential trade policy as hostile, labeling the administration as "antisemitic" and claiming the country has been "conquered by radical Islam." Smotrich argued that Israel should not act as a "trampled doormat" in response to these international pressures.

The proposed retaliatory measures mentioned by the ministers include calls for sanctions against Britain regarding the Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. While the ministers have framed their response as a necessary defense of Israeli sovereignty and interests, the UK government has not yet officially confirmed the details of the proposed trade restrictions on settlement goods. The situation highlights growing diplomatic friction between the two nations regarding the status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law by the UK and much of the international community, a position Israel disputes.