TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – France said on Wednesday, November 29 2023, that the European Union should consider sanctions against Israeli settlers targeting Palestinians in the West Bank as an option and that talks in the European Union to impose sanctions on Hamas commanders were progressing.
UN data shows that daily settler attacks have more than doubled since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7 and subsequent attacks on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. More than 200 Palestinian citizens died in violence this year, including attacks by illegal Jewish settlers.
“We believe that the international community has a role to play in ending acts of violence that deeply destabilize the region, but also harm the prospects for a two-state solution,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said in a weekly media briefing.
He said no option was off the table, including EU sanctions against violent individuals.
Israel seized West Bank in the Middle East war of 1967 and has since been under military occupation, temporarily Jewish settlement continues to grow. Palestinians envision the West Bank as part of a future independent state, including Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Advertising
Advertising
French diplomatic sources said Paris supported sanctions European Unionbut the debate on this issue in the bloc has not yet started.
The United States says it is ready to issue a visa ban on “extremists” who attack civilians in the West Bank.
A European diplomat warned that while France wanted to push the idea, some members of the bloc did not.
However, the diplomat said that with some countries opposing certain proposed actions against Hamas, efforts to target settlers could reassure doubters that the approach is balanced.
Legendre also said talks were underway in Brussels about dropping penalty – asset freeze and travel ban – against Hamas commanders.
Efforts are also underway with European and other allies to cut funding to Hamas, including through the No Money for Terror platform, and to tackle Hamas propaganda on social media.
No Money for Terror is an ad hoc coalition formed in 2018 with the aim of combating the financing of terrorism.
France on November 13 imposed nationwide sanctions on Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif and his deputy, Marwan Issa.
Two diplomats said the aim was to add them to the European Union’s list of sanctioned terrorists by mid-December. Other people are also being questioned, but legal documents will take longer to prepare, they said.
REUTERS
Editor’s Choice: Family Claims Israeli Hostages Beaten and Threatened with Death by Hamas
2023-11-30 07:05:17
#France #Opens #Option #Talks #Sanctions #Israeli #Settlers
