Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The EU Council has sanctioned four individuals and two entities for severe human rights violations against Palestinians, including violent acts and property rights breaches in the West Bank.
The European Council has decided to list four individuals and two entities under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The enumerated individuals and entities are responsible for grave human rights abuses against Palestinians, including suffering and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or penalties and for the breach of the property rights and private and family life of Palestinians in the West Bank.
According to the Press of European Council, the listed bodies are Lehava, a radical right-wing Jewish supremacist group, and Hilltop Youth, a radical youth group consisting of associates known for violent actions against Palestinians and their villages in the West Bank. Two guiding figures of Hilltop Youth, Meir Ettinger and Elisha Yered, are also documented. Both were implicated in deadly attacks against Palestinians in 2015 and 2023.
Why Were Specific Individuals and Entities Targeted?
The Council designations also include Neria Ben Pazi, who has been indicted of repeatedly striking Palestinians in Wadi Seeq and Deir Jarir since 2021, and Yinon Levi, who has taken interest in multiple violent actions against neighbouring villages from his residence in the Mitarim farm illegal outpost.
Council states that the listings and restrictive actions under the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime now lay to 108 natural and legal individuals and 28 entities from a range of countries.
How Will Sanctions Impact the Accused?
Those listed under the sanctions authority are subject to an asset freeze, and the provision of funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to them or for their benefit, is restricted. Additionally, a travel prohibition to the EU applies to the natural persons listed.
What Measures Does the EU Council Advocate?
Moreover, In its findings of 21-22 March 2024, the EU Council called for an immediate suspension of violence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and for safe entrance to the Holy sites to be ensured. The European Council strongly criticised extremist settler violence, noting that perpetrators must be held to account; and called on the Council to accelerate work on embracing relevant targeted restrictive actions. The European Council also denounced the Israeli government’s decisions to further grow illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank and urged Israel to reverse these decisions.
What is the Purpose of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime?
On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted a Conclusion establishing a Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which involves acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other grave human rights violations or abuses (e.g. torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions or detentions). The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime highlights the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights breaches and abuses worldwide. Achieving the practical enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic objective of the Union. Respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a basic value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.
