LABOUR is considering sanctioning two far-right Israeli ministers as pressure mounts on the government to take tougher action against Israel.

The government is also joining with France and Algeria to convene an urgent meeting of the United Nations security council to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The move comes after a clear view from MPs across the Commons earlier this week that the government is doing little or nothing in practice to halt the genocide against the Palestinians and Israel’s widening aggressions.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey used Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) to point out that Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had said that starving two million Palestinians may be “justified and moral” while Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called settlers who murdered a young Palestinian on the West Bank “heroes.”

Noting that former foreign secretary David Cameron has revealed that he was considering sanctioning the fascist pair, Sir Ed asked Sir Keir Starmer to now act.

Sir Keir replied: “We are looking at that because they’re obviously abhorrent comments, along with other really concerning activity in the West Bank but also 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.”

However, a Downing Street spokesman was unable to indicate when a decision might be due. 

He reiterated government condemnation of West Bank Israeli settlements and settler violence, in which both Mr Smotrich and Mr Ben-Gvir are centrally involved.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that Britain was convening the security council meeting just a day after MPs had grilled his deputy Anneliese Dodds in the Commons over the government’s lack of action.

He said: “Israel must ensure civilians are protected and ensure routes are open to allow life-saving aid through. While the conflict continues, all parties are bound by international humanitarian law.”