Penny Wong slammed by US Secretary of State after introducing sanctions on Israeli officials [Video]

20:44 EDT 10 Jun 2025, updated 22:16 EDT 10 Jun 2025

Australia has come under fire from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for backing sanctions against two senior Israeli officials, accusing the Albanese government of turning a blind eye to the ‘real enemy’. 

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Wednesday the targeted sanctions in a joint statement alongside her counterparts from Canada, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom.

The measures – which include travel bans and financial sanctions – are against National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have been accused of inciting ‘extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights’. 

Mr Ben-Gvir, from the Jewish Power party, and Mr Smotrich, of the Religious Zionism Party, are members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s coalition government. 

Mr Rubio strongly condemned the measures, saying they undermine efforts to end the conflict. 

‘These sanctions do not advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, …