By Ahmet Gencturk
ATHENS (AA) — The EU on Monday announced sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers, illegal outposts, and a far-right group over severe and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The five individuals and three entities sanctioned are "responsible for serious and systematic human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank, including abuse of the right of everyone to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental integrity, the right to property, the right to private and family life, to freedom of religion or belief and the right to education," the EU Council said in a statement.
The council identified the settlers as Moshe Sharvit, Zvi Bar Yosef, Baruch Marzel, Ben-Zion Gopstein, and Isaschar Manne. Marzel had who openly called for the ethnic cleaning of Palestinians, while Gopstein is the founder and leader of extremist group Lehava.
It also slapped sanctions on the Moshe's Farm, an outpost owned by Moshe Sharvit in the Jordan Valley, and Zvi's Farm, which was established by Bar Yosef.
A violent Israeli far-right group known as Tzav 9 was also sanctioned.
"Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze, and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is prohibited. Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to the natural persons listed," the statement remarked.
Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank since Israel launched a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 38,600 victims since Oct. 7 last year following a Hamas attack.
At least 574 Palestinians, including at least 136 children, have since been killed and nearly 5,350 others injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Health Ministry.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.