Washington on Tuesday imposed visa restrictions on Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, 2023. “Dozens” of people are banned from entering the United States.
The United States announced sanctions on Tuesday against extremist Israeli settlers accused of attacks on Palestinians in a bid to curb violence in the occupied West Bank and called on Israel to “do more” to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip.
“Today, the State Department is implementing a new visa restriction policy against individuals suspected of helping to undermine peace, security, or stability in the West Bank, including by committing acts of violence” against Palestinians, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement consider this violence “unacceptable”.
This affects “dozens” of people who will be banned from entering the United States, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a news conference, adding that their relatives would also be subject to sanctions if necessary.
The actual naming of these people, whose identities have not been disclosed, will be done gradually, he said.
Intensification of violence
The West Bank has been hit by intensifying violence since the war between Israel and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, began on October 7.
In Israel last Thursday, the head of American diplomacy warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his intention to impose such visa restrictions on extremist settlers.
The United States has repeatedly condemned violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and called on Israeli authorities to stop it and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Since October 7, at least 255 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by the Israeli army or settlers, according to a Palestinian Authority report, and at least 244 according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Osha).
On the Gaza side, the Israeli army said on Tuesday it was fighting Hamas in Khan Younes, a major city in the south of the enclave where the UN fears a “hellish scenario” for civilians trapped in an ever-shrinking radius.