The United States places sanctions against Israeli group

By TMO Staff

The United States announced sanctions against a group in Israel, Hashomer Yosh, allegedly responsible for violence in the West Bank toward Palestinians on Wednesday.

“The United States will continue to take action to promote accountability for those who commit and support extremist violence affecting the West Bank,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a public statement.

The United States has also sanctioned a separate Israeli individual named ‘Yitzhak Levi Filant.’ This individual allegedly led armed Israeli settlers to conduct attacks and patrols toward Palestinians in February earlier this year.

The United States has stated they will hold bad characters responsible when necessary. Miller has called on the Israeli government to hold individuals responsible who are posing threats, and violence against residents who are living in the region of the West Bank.

This recent announcement is the recent way the United States has decided to target Israeli violence toward Palestinian people overseas. The spark of violence has increased ever since Oct. 7, when there was a deemed attack by Hamas on Israel.

The announcement comes at a time when Israel continues to attack West Bank civilians. This week alone, Israel killed nearly 10 Palestinians.

In response to the sanctions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told public media outlets that he believes the war sanctions on the group and individuals are completely unnecessary.

His office called Israeli settlers in the West Bank “law-abiding citizens.”

“Israel acts against all lawbreakers everywhere, so there is no room for exceptional measures in this regard,” Netanyahu’s office said.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that 652 Palestinians were killed ever since October 7th. Plus, nearly 5,400 people have reported numerous injuries.

Local Muslim grassroots organizations in the United States including Emgage Action have put forth public statements on the recent sanctions the United States government issued.

“Emgage Action welcomes the U.S. sanctions against extremist settler violence in the West Bank, which causes immense human suffering and threatens regional stability. These sanctions target groups like Hashomer Yosh and individuals such as Yitzhak Levi Filant, linked to ultranationalist ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich. This action is essential to hold accountable those responsible for the violence. We are greatly concerned by escalating Israeli military operations in the Occupied West Bank that have killed Palestinian civilians and destroyed critical infrastructure including hospitals, as seen in Gaza. The U.S. must address these developments more seriously with urgency,” Emgage Action stated.

The United States maintains its claims to put forth peace, stability, and security in the region overseas.