Biden Plans to Impose Sanctions on Israeli Settlers in the West Bank

President Joe Biden was expected to issue an executive order Thursday to punish Israeli settlers who have been attacking Palestinians in the West Bank, Politico reported.

Citing documents and a U.S. official, Politico reported that the president will impose financial sanctions on Israelis who have killed or forced displacement of Palestinians from the occupied territory.

The Biden administration in December imposed travel bans on dozens of settlers and their families over the attacks.

“We have underscored to the Israeli government the need to do more to hold accountable extremist settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said then.

The sanctions expected to be levied Thursday underscore the pressure Biden is under from his left flank to be tougher on Israel amid its war on Hamas terrorists in Gaza, according to the report. Biden and senior U.S. officials have repeatedly warned Israel it must act to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank.

“They’re attacking Palestinians in places that they’re entitled to be, and it has to stop. They have to be held accountable,” Biden said in October.

Attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank were already increasing, as Jewish settlements expanded, before Hamas attacked Israel beginning Oct. 7. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 380 Palestinians have been killed and more than 4,200 others injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank since Oct. 7.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israeli forces have “already eliminated 500 terrorists” in the West Bank.