'We are imposing sanctions': US, G7 condemn Israel's settlement expansion in West Bank

The United States on Thursday (Jul 11) announced sanctions on three Israelis and five entities it accused of disturbing peace in the occupied West Bank. Of those sanctioned, the most notable is the Lehava organisation led by already-sanctioned Bentzi Gopstein.

"Lehava's members have engaged in repeated acts of violence against Palestinians, often targeting sensitive or volatile areas. Additionally, we are imposing sanctions on four outposts that are owned or controlled by U.S.-designated individuals who have weaponized them as bases for violent actions to displace Palestinians. Outposts like these have been used to disrupt grazing lands, limit access to wells, and launch violent attacks against neighboring Palestinians," said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Additionally, the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers in a statement condemned Israel for legalising five outposts in the West Bank.

“We reject the Government of Israel's decision to declare over 1.270 hectares of land in the West Bank 'state lands' – the largest declaration of state land since the Oslo Accords – and the decision to expand existing settlements in the occupied West Bank with 5.295 new housing units and to create three new settlements. The Government of Israel's settlement program is inconsistent with international law and counterproductive to the cause of peace,” the foreignministers of the G7said.

Israel's outpost expansion in West Bank

Israel recently expanded its settlements in the West Bank and erected outposts after declaring it "state land." Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is believed to have spearheaded the expansion efforts.

Smotrichhimself approved the construction of new settlements in the territory which are deemed illegal under international law.

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Smotrich is also a minister at the Israelidefence ministry and has control over the West Bank’s administration.

US to provide $100mn assistance to Gaza, West Bank

The US earlier announced that it would provide the Palestinians inGaza and the West Bankwith an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance.

"This funding will support USAID's partner the UN World Food Program (WFP) to deliver urgently needed food assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. Nearly the entire population in Gaza is facing emergency levels of food insecurity and is in need of assistance, especially the most vulnerable, including children and pregnant and nursing women," said the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in a statement.

Taking the latest financial assistance into account, the total US funding to the Palestinianshas now reached $774 million.

(With inputs from agencies)