The United Kingdom has announced new sanctions on four extremist Israeli settlers for committing human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The UK Foreign Office stated that the measures put strict financial and travel restrictions on the four sanctioned individuals, namely, Moshe Sharvit, Yinon Levy, Zvi Bar Yosef and Ely Federman.
The British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said in a statement that the sanctions place restrictions on those involved in “some of the most egregious abuses of human rights.”
“We should be clear about what is happening here. Extremist Israeli settlers are threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs. This behaviour is illegal and unacceptable.
“Israel must also take stronger action and put a stop to settler violence. Too often, we see commitments made and undertakings given, but not followed through.”
David Cameron
He added that extremist settlers, by targeting and attacking Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Foreign Office noted that the UK government has continued to call for Israel to take action against those responsible for settler violence, release frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority and halt settlement expansion.
It added that the measures taken are part of wider UK efforts to support a more stable West Bank, which is vital for the peace and security of both Palestinians and Israelis.
The UK will consider additional actions, including further sanctions, as necessary.
“The UK continues to work with allies and partners, including across the region, to find a path towards a sustainable ceasefire and permanent peace,” it said.
UK Cautions Israel About Planned Rafah Assault
Also on Monday, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, said that Israel should “stop and think seriously” before taking further action in Rafah, which was hit by heavy airstrikes overnight.
Cameron said that many of the people in Rafah had already fled from other areas “four, five, six times before getting there” and there is nowhere else for them to go.
“They can’t go south into Egypt, they can’t go north and back to their homes because many have been destroyed,” he told reporters, adding, “So we are very concerned about the situation.”
Also, Cameron called for a halt in the ongoing war.
“But above all, what we want is an immediate pause in the fighting. We want that pause to lead to a ceasefire, a sustainable ceasefire without a return to further fighting. That is what should happen now.
“We need to get those hostages out, including the British nationals. We need to get the aid in. The best way to do that is to stop the fighting now and turn that into a permanent, sustainable ceasefire.”
David Cameron
Moreso, the official Spokesperson for Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, expressed great concern about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah.
The city, on the border with Egypt, is one of the few regions not yet targeted by an Israeli ground offensive and is providing refuge to more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population who have fled fighting elsewhere.
The Prime Minister’s official Spokesperson said, “We are obviously deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah.”
“Over half of Gaza’s population are sheltering there and that crossing is vital to ensuring aid can reach the people who desperately need it,” the Spokesperson added.
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