In response to the rising violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories, the United Kingdom announced on Tuesday, May 21, a series of targeted sanctions against seven Israeli individuals and entities operating in the occupied West Bank (Judea and Samaria). This rare move sends a strong message against the actions of the Israeli occupation forces and their extremist allies.
At the center of the sanctions: Zohar Sabah
Among those sanctioned is Zohar Sabah, who was indicted last September for his role in a violent attack on Palestinian civilians and activists in the village of Muarrajat. According to British authorities, Sabah is directly implicated in “threatening, committing, authorizing, and supporting acts of aggression against Palestinians.”
Colonial structures in the spotlight
The sanctions also target illegal settler farms, including Neria Farm and Coco’s Farm, both identified for their alleged involvement in serious human rights violations. These installations, built on confiscated Palestinian land, are regularly accused of playing a key role in the ongoing expansion of settlements in defiance of international law.
Other entities sanctioned include the Nachala movement, known for advocating the establishment of new settler outposts in Palestinian territories, the company Libi Construction and Infrastructure LTD, led by Harel Libi, and Daniella Weiss, a prominent figure of the radical settler right, accused of promoting apartheid policies.
An implicit condemnation of the occupation regime
These sanctions come amid a deteriorating situation in the West Bank, where attacks by armed settlers — often with the complicity or passive support of the Israeli army — have escalated in recent years, leaving Palestinian communities in a constant state of fear and dispossession.
Meanwhile, Israel’s recent military operations in Gaza — described by several NGOs and international legal experts as war crimes or even genocide — have only reinforced the perception that Israeli perpetrators of violence act with impunity.
The UK Foreign Office reiterated the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians and upholding fundamental human rights principles. The Israeli government has yet to issue an official response, though the announcement is expected to further strain diplomatic ties between Tel Aviv and London.
As the international community continues to call for de-escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories, the UK’s move is seen as a symbolic turning point in condemning crimes committed under the guise of military occupation.
In the absence of firm measures from the European Union or the UN Security Council, silence in the face of ongoing genocide can no longer be justified by diplomatic caution alone.
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