The US Secretary of State has condemned Sir Keir Starmer for imposing sanctions on two Israeli politicians over the war in Gaza.

Marco Rubio criticised Britain and other nations for announcing on Tuesday that they would break with the US and sanction two ultra-nationalist Israeli cabinet ministers.

The UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway accused Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich of “inciting violence against the Palestinian people”.

Mr Rubio said the sanctions “do not advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home and end the war”. He urged the UK “not to forget who the real enemy is”.

Mr Ben-Gvir responded on Tuesday evening by comparing Sir Keir to Neville Chamberlain, the former prime minister who was accused of appeasing the Nazis.

“History will judge the Chamberlains of our time,” Mr Ben-Gvir, who has called for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, replied to Mr Rubio’s post on X.