UK and Allies Sanction Networks Funding Settler Violence in West Bank
Britain, France, Australia, Canada and Norway have jointly imposed sanctions on a bundle of organisations and individuals that the five governments say are responsible for financing and enabling attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinian civilians in the Israeli‑occupied West Bank. The move was announced in Brussels and London and aims to hold “extremist settlers” accountable for the “horrific levels” of settler violence.
The five foreign‑ministers said that “For too long, violent settlers have been able to act with near impunity” while settlement expansion and the construction of outposts proceeds with Israeli government support. In response, the UK has frozen assets, imposed travel bans and introduced director‑disqualification measures against six entities and one individual tied to settlement violence.
France joined the package by banning far‑right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country. Smotrich, who has wide influence over settlement policy, was cited as actively promoting the annexation of the West Bank, the re‑colonisation of Gaza and the economic collapse of the Palestinian Authority. Other prominent settlers, including 21 violent residents, were also barred from France and Norway.
Israel’s foreign ministry has condemned the sanctions as “political acts camouflaged as measures against violence”, noting that the measures “only serve to fuel rampant antisemitism” in the sanctioning countries. The industry also welcomed the joint statement, saying it rejects “the occupation’s measures to annex the West Bank.”
The sanctions follow a surge in settler attacks on Palestinians, with the United Nations reporting 1,835 incidents in 2025 that caused casualties or property damage, a 130% rise from the previous year. The moves also come amid Israel’s expansion of settlements, now housing about 700,000 Jews on land Palestinians claim for a future state.
