UK sanctions illegal outposts in West Bank

The UK government has announced new sanctions against three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank.

According to the foreign secretary, the outposts and organisations have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

The UN has recorded over 1,400 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities since October 2023.  

Foreign secretary David Lammy said: "When I went to the West Bank earlier this year, on one of my first trips as Foreign Secretary, I met with Palestinians whose communities have suffered horrific violence at the hands of Israeli settlers.   

"The inaction of the Israeli government has allowed an environment of impunity to flourish where settler violence has been allowed to increase unchecked. Settlers have shockingly even targeted schools and families with young children.    

"Today’s measures will help bring accountability to those who have supported and perpetrated such heinous abuses of human rights. The Israeli government must crack down on settler violence and stop settler expansion on Palestinian land. As long as violent extremists remain unaccountable, the UK and the international community will continue to act."

The outposts sanctioned include Tirzah Valley Farm Outpost, Meitarim Outpost, and Shuvi Eretz Outpost. They have allegedly been "involved in facilitating, inciting, promoting or providing support for activity that amounts to a serious abuse of the right of Palestinians not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".

The four sanctioned organisations are Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva; Hashomer Yosh; Torat Lechima; and Amana.

According to the government statement, Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva is a religious school embedded in the Yitzhar settlement known to promote violence against non-Jewish people and Hashomer Yosh is a non-governmental organisation that provides volunteers for illegal outposts, including Meitarim Outpost. Torat Lechima is a registered Israeli charity that has been documented as providing financial support to illegal settler outposts linked with acts of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.