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Foreign ministers

Australia Joins Growing List of Countries Imposing Sanctions on Israeli Settlers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Australia has imposed sanctions on seven Israeli settlers and the Hilltop Youth group, a hardline settler organization, in response to their violent attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The sanctions freeze assets and impose a travel ban, in addition to blocking the provision of funds or economic resources. This move comes days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a non-binding opinion that all Israeli settlement activity on Palestinian land is illegal and must stop as soon as possible.

The sanctions are part of a growing trend of countries imposing penalties on Israeli settlers for their roles in attacking Palestinians and seizing land. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Canada have all imposed similar limited sanctions on a number of settlers and entities organizing them. However, critics argue that these sanctions have done little to curb the violence or stop settlements, with the Israeli government and settlers continuing to attack Palestinians and seize land at an unprecedented rate.

The ICJ's opinion has highlighted the widespread and escalating violence in the occupied territory, with at least 563 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the start of the war on Gaza, and at least 1,143 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, resulting in casualties or damage to Palestinian property. The UN has reported that at least 2,836 people, including 1,245 children, have been displaced due to the destruction of Palestinian structures.

Despite these developments, the Israeli government has shown no signs of relenting, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pushing back against reports of potential US sanctions on Israeli officials. Ben-Gvir has even threatened to dismantle the Palestinian Authority if the US imposes sanctions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Australia has imposed sanctions on seven Israeli settlers and the Hilltop Youth group, in addition to blocking the provision of funds or economic resources, and freezing assets.
  • The sanctions follow a non-binding opinion from the International Court of Justice that all Israeli settlement activity on Palestinian land is illegal and must stop as soon as possible.
  • The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Canada have also imposed similar limited sanctions on a number of settlers and entities organizing them.
  • Critics argue that these sanctions have done little to curb the violence or stop settlements, with the Israeli government and settlers continuing to attack Palestinians and seize land at an unprecedented rate.
  • The ICJ's opinion has highlighted the widespread and escalating violence in the occupied territory, with at least 563 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the start of the war on Gaza.
  • The UN has reported that at least 2,836 people, including 1,245 children, have been displaced due to the destruction of Palestinian structures.
  • The Israeli government has shown no signs of relenting, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir pushing back against reports of potential US sanctions on Israeli officials.

Statistics:

  • At least 563 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war on Gaza.
  • At least 1,143 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have been recorded, resulting in casualties or damage to Palestinian property.
  • The UN has reported that at least 2,836 people, including 1,245 children, have been displaced due to the destruction of Palestinian structures.
  • Israel has illegally seized 23.7sq km (9.15 sq miles) of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank in 2024, more than the land it took over the past 20 years combined.

Sources:

  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/19/world-court-says-israels-settlement-policies-breach-international-law
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/25/australia-imposes-sanctions-on-israeli-settlers#:~:text=Australia%20has%20imposed%20sanctions%20and,setting%20up%20new%20illegal%20outposts.
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/11/us-announcess-sanctions-on-israeli-settlers-over-west-bank-violence
  • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/24/are-settler-politics-running-unchecked-in-israel-2

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