ALWAGHT- US President Donald Trump has revoked an executive order that imposed sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers linked to violent attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump reversed an executive order issued by President Joe Biden in February 2024 that imposed sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The sanctions had targeted 17 settlers and 16 entities accused of undermining peace and stability in the region. These measures blocked them from accessing US assets, property, and the American financial system. Trump's decision came amid escalating violence in the West Bank, with armed settlers attacking Palestinian villages under the protection of Israeli military forces.
The settler violence, which included the burning of homes, shops, and vehicles, as well as calls for the murder and displacement of Palestinians, intensified after the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. Despite Israel’s significant military actions, which resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths, the country failed to achieve its goals, including the elimination of Hamas. This led to Israel agreeing to a ceasefire with Hamas on Sunday, though far-right Israelis rejected the truce and called for continued attacks on Gaza.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern over the increasing settler violence in the West Bank, particularly following the ceasefire in Gaza. The OHCHR also noted the tightening of Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement, further exacerbating the difficult living conditions of Palestinians under occupation.
