Australia on Thursday imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on seven Israeli settlers and a youth group it said had been involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The unnamed group was responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinians, while the settlers had been involved in beatings, sexual assault and torture and in some cases death, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

“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 said in a statement.

The move by the Australian government comes after allies Britain, the United States, Canada and Japan sanctioned some Israeli settlers in response to the violence in the West Bank.

The West Bank -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- has seen a significant spike in violence since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

At least 589 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops or settlers since the outbreak of the war on October 7, according to Palestinian authorities.

Over the same period at least 17 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in attacks in the territory involving Palestinians, according to Israeli official figures.

Canberra's announcement echoes moves by the US, Britain, Canada and the European Union who have also blacklisted Israeli settlers.

"Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace," Wong added.

The International Court of Justice found Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories illegal on Friday.

Source: Arab News

BDST: 1021 HRS, JULY 25, 2024
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