EU threatens Israeli leaders with personal sanctions

EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell has condemned the latest attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian village in the West Bank, threatening to propose sanctions on their supporters, including those in the Israeli government.

On Thursday, media reports emerged that masked Israeli settlers had invaded the Palestinian town of Jit in the occupied West Bank.

Nasser Sedda, a head of the town council told CNN that dozens of invaders fired bullets, sprayed tear gas at the residents and set several buildings and cars on fire.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the assault, saying that the Israeli attackers had set fires and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails before being dispersed by Israeli security forces.

“Day after day, in an almost total impunity, Israeli settlers fuel violence in the occupied West Bank, contributing to endanger any chance of peace,” Borrell said in a post on X (former Twitter).

“The Israeli government must stop these unacceptable actions immediately,” he stressed in a follow-up tweet, having confirmed his “intention to table a proposal for EU sanctions against violent settlers’ enablers, including some Israeli government members.”

Palestinian health officials said, as cited by Euronews, that the violent attack claimed the life of a 23-year-old Palestinian and critically injured another. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent said that two people sought medical assistance for injuries from stones and others needed help for smoke inhalation.

Commenting on the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that “those responsible for any offense will be apprehended and tried” with “utmost severity.”

A fresh wave of hostilities broke out on October 7 after Hamas launched a surprise incursion into southern Israel from Gaza, resulting in the deaths of around 1,100 people, while 200 others were taken hostage. The massive Israeli response has claimed over 40,000 lives, while another 92,401 people have been wounded, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel’s war with Hamas and the siege of Gaza have drawn international criticism in recent months, including threats of sanctions. West Jerusalem has recently experienced a steady decline in Western support due to the mounting death toll and deepening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Earlier this week, Borrell blasted two cabinet members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, over “war crimes,” warning that they could face international sanctions.

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