Australia has imposed sanctions and travel bans on Israeli settlers accused of committing violent crimes against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. These measures, announced by Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday, target seven individual settlers and a hardline settler group known as Hilltop Youth.
Hilltop Youth is infamous for establishing new illegal outposts and inciting violence against Palestinians. Wong stated that the sanctioned settlers are responsible for severe offenses, including beatings, sexual assault, and torture.
“We call on Israel to hold perpetrators of settler violence to account and to cease its ongoing settlement activity, which only inflames tensions and further undermines stability and prospects for a two-state solution,” Wong emphasized in her statement.
Australia’s decision aligns with similar actions taken by its allies, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Japan. On June 11, the US, a strong supporter of Israel, announced sanctions against several Israeli settlers and the far-right nationalist group Lehava. US Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller highlighted the US’s concerns about extremist violence and instability in the West Bank, urging the Israeli government to hold these individuals and entities accountable.
Following Australia’s announcement, Israel’s embassy in Canberra condemned the violent acts against Palestinian communities. “Israel is a state of law and will work to bring the extreme minority involved to justice,” a spokesperson told Reuters.
Violence by Israeli settlers and military operations in the occupied West Bank have surged during Israel’s conflict with Gaza. According to Palestinian officials, at least 589 Palestinians have been killed since October 7. In the same period, official Israeli figures report that at least 17 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in attacks involving Palestinians in the territory.
Australia views Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory as illegal and a barrier to peace. A landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice on July 19 declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, illegal and called for its immediate end.
Settlement expansion has accelerated since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022. His Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees settlement expansion and resides in an Israeli settlement, has vowed to establish “a million new settlers.”
