US imposes sanctions on Israelis from West Bank for attacks on Palestinians
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
On Tuesday, October 1, the US imposed sanctions on Hilltop Youth, a group of extremist settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank who attacked Palestinians and their property, reports AP.
Additionally, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions on two individuals: Israeli settler Eitan Yardeni for his involvement in violence against civilians in the West Bank, and Avichai Suissa, the leader of Hashomer Yosh group, which sends young volunteers to settler farms across the territory for confrontations with Palestinians.
The sanctions include asset freezes, travel bans, and visa restrictions. They are being enacted amid a sharp increase in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.
Palestinians have reported verbal and physical assaults, movement restrictions, and intimidation by settlers.
The US Department of the Treasury stated that Hilltop Youth has committed murders and mass arson. Human rights organizations and Palestinians allege that the group is responsible for attacks on Palestinian villages in response to perceived attempts to obstruct settlement construction.
AP reports that practical implementation of the sanctions may face challenges, as the group is loosely organized and decentralized. Moreover, Israel's finance minister had previously promised to take measures in their favor.
Previously sanctioned settlers have told the agency that these measures have not impacted their finances.
Hilltop Youth has already faced sanctions from the EU and the UK.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the actions of these individuals have contributed to creating an environment where violence and instability thrive. Their actions, collectively and individually, undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.
In April, The New York Times reported that the US was considering imposing sanctions against one or more battalions of the Israeli army accused of human rights violations during operations in the West Bank.
Earlier in September, it was reported that an armed man from Jordan killed three Israeli civilians at the Allenby Bridge border crossing in the West Bank. He was neutralized by Israeli security forces.
Also, in early September, Democratic members of Congress joined the UN in condemning the killing of an American citizen in the West Bank. They called for holding Israel accountable amid rising tensions over settlement expansion. According to eyewitnesses, 26-year-old Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers during a protest against settlement expansion.
