US to hit Israeli settlers with visa bans over West Bank violence
- Biden has warned repeatedly against attacks on Palestinians in the area, which have more than doubled since the October 7 Hamas attack
- The restrictions will target those who have committed violence or acted to restrict civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities
The US State Department will impose visa bans against individuals involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the occupied West Bank, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Tuesday announcing a new visa restriction policy.
The restrictions will target those who have committed acts of violence or taken other actions that restrict civilians’ access to essential services and basic necessities and may also apply to those individuals’ family members, Blinken said.
The statement did not identify any individuals facing visa bans, or say how many would be targeted.
US President Joe Biden and other senior American officials have warned repeatedly that Israel must act to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, which has increased since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
“We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Blinken said.