Israel's Attack on the West Bank; US Sanctions Israeli Settlers Again

The United States has announced sanctions against the security unit of the Itamar settlement in the West Bank and another Israeli organization active in the occupied area. The US State Department announced on Wednesday, September 7, that 'Hashomer Yosh', a non-governmental organization claiming to assist settlers, has been added to its sanctions list. The US has accused this individual and organization of violence and extremism against Palestinians in the West Bank. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, stated: 'The violence of extremist settlers in the West Bank has caused human suffering, undermined Israel's security, and jeopardized the prospects for peace and stability in the region.' He also mentioned that Yitzhak Levi Philant, the security coordinator in the Itamar settlement, led a group of armed settlers to prevent Palestinians from accessing their land, which is why he has been sanctioned. The sanctions are based on an executive order by Joe Biden in February addressing violence in the West Bank. This executive order is used to sanction Palestinian militants and Israeli settlers. On Wednesday, Palestinian officials reported that Israeli forces conducted military operations across the West Bank, resulting in at least 10 deaths. Since the attack by the extremist group Hamas on southern Israel on October 7 last year, Israel has conducted daily operations in the West Bank. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the US and the EU. According to the Associated Press, Palestinian militant groups announced on Wednesday that they exchanged fire with Israeli soldiers. Kamal Abu Rabe, the governor of Jenin, told Palestine Radio that Israeli forces have besieged the city and blocked access routes to hospitals. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the bodies of seven people were transferred to the Tubas city hospital and two others to the Jenin hospital. The Israeli army confirmed operations in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm in the West Bank but did not provide details. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 652 Palestinians have been killed in clashes between militants and Israeli soldiers in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war 10 months ago. Israel Katz, the Israeli Foreign Minister, in a message on X, referred to the operations of his country's army in Jenin and Tulkarm, stating that 'Israeli forces are vigorously destroying Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures that have taken root in these areas.' He claimed, 'Iran is creating a terrorist front against Israel in the West Bank based on the Gaza and Lebanon model by financing terrorists and smuggling advanced weapons through Jordan.' The Israeli Foreign Minister emphasized, 'We must confront this threat, just as we have dealt with the terrorist structure in Gaza, including through the temporary relocation of Palestinian residents and necessary actions.' He stressed that 'this is a war for existence, and we must win it.' The Israeli army stated that it has rescued a Hamas hostage from a tunnel in Gaza. The Israeli army claims that these operations are essential for destroying Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups and preventing attacks on Israelis, which have increased since the outbreak of the Gaza war. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem (Al-Quds) in 1967. Palestinians consider all three areas part of a future Palestinian state. Israel has established many settlements in the West Bank, home to 500,000 Jews, who are considered Israeli citizens, while three million Palestinians living in the area are under Israeli military rule, with the Palestinian Authority having limited control over Palestinian-populated areas. The surprise attack by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups on southern Israel on October 7 last year resulted in about 1,200 deaths on the Israeli side, the majority of whom were civilians. More than 250 citizens of this country were also kidnapped and taken to Gaza. According to Palestinian sources, ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza during this period have also left over 40,000 dead and displaced 90% of the population of this strip.