The United States imposed new sanctions on Israeli settlers in the West Bank due to violence against Palestinians, urging Israel to enhance accountability. This move came on the same day Israel initiated a significant attack on the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of nine Palestinian fighters, despite warnings from President Joe Biden’s administration against escalating the conflict in Gaza.
Land Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized the need for Israel to hold individuals and entities responsible for violence accountable, stating that extremist settler violence in the West Bank leads to suffering, threatens Israel’s security, and hinders peace in the region.
One of the targeted groups, Hashomer Yosh, supported an unauthorized settler outpost and initiated actions that forced Palestinian residents to evacuate a village. The State Department also sanctioned Yitzhak Levi Filant for leading armed settlers in attacking Palestinians.
Since the Gaza war outbreak, the West Bank has seen increased violence. At least 640 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank, according to AFP.
The US has expressed concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about settler violence and settlement expansion but has not imposed sanctions on government ministers driving the settlement policy.