Western powers impose coordinated sanctions on West Bank settler violence enablers

The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and Norway have implemented coordinated sanctions targeting networks involved in financing and enabling settler violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The measures, announced on Tuesday, respond to record levels of illegal settlement expansion and escalating violence in the region.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed the joint action, stating that the six nations are imposing new sanctions against those responsible for intensifying colonisation and violence. In addition to the coordinated financial restrictions, France has banned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, three settler group leaders, and 21 settlers from entering the country due to their involvement in West Bank violence.

The six countries warned that they are prepared to take further measures if the Israeli government fails to adequately address the situation on the ground. This stance aligns with recent actions by the UK under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which include pausing free trade talks with Israel and suspending some arms export licences. The UK has also previously recognised a Palestinian state alongside France and Canada.

Israel’s foreign ministry strongly denounced the sanctions. Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated that Israel firmly rejects measures against its citizens and entities, characterising the steps as an attempt to impose a political stance on Jewish settlement rights rather than addressing violence. Israel maintains that any protection of settlers by troops constitutes rogue incidents that violate military protocol.

The UK government has strengthened business risk guidance, urging British citizens and businesses to refrain from conducting financial activities in illegal settlements. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told Parliament that violent settler groups should not profit from land seized from Palestinians, noting that current condemnations of violence ring hollow without accountability.

Amnesty International described the sanctions as insufficient. Kristyan Benedict, the organisation’s UK crisis response manager, argued that targeting financing networks while ministers face no consequences leaves the architects of the policy untouched. The group called for further sanctions against Israeli ministers including Benjamin Netanyahu, Orit Strock, Israel Katz, and former defence minister Yoav Gallant.

An inquiry by the United Nations has found that Israeli authorities were directly involved in settler attacks in the West Bank, with Israeli forces providing protection for settlers. The UN report noted that these actions have resulted in deaths, injuries, and displacement of Palestinians, highlighting the structural nature of the violence that the new sanctions aim to address.