Should the international community sanction Israel over settler violence in West Bank?

UN reports that West Bank is at breaking point. I think that is obvious to anyone who follows the news on settler violence.

Some details from the report:

Childhood Unsafe, Especially for Boys
“The fundamental spaces of childhood — the home, the school and the community — are becoming increasingly unsafe,” Hannan Sulieman, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), told the Council. Asking members to imagine raising children in Gaza and the West Bank, she said the UN verified 174 Palestinian children killed in the West Bank between January 2024 and July 2026.
Boys comprise most of those children killed and injured, she said. Some had been shot — even while running away — and parents are increasingly withdrawing their children from school because they cannot keep them safe.
“Exposing a child to violence, raids and intimidation takes a profound psychological toll,” she added, spotlighting the plight of the 800,000 children in the West Bank, and more specifically, at least 355 Palestinian children currently held in detention facing harsh conditions, mistreatment and inadequate nutrition.
She emphasized that UNICEF and its partners remain on the ground to support displaced families and those in need of emergency food assistance, cash aid, medical support, safe water and psychosocial services. “But humanitarian assistance can only mitigate the consequences; it cannot remove the causes.

11 Aug 2026 17:14
CONTEXT: WHO reports sharp rise in Israeli attacks on healthcare
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has been monitoring Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
In the West Bank, there have been nearly 100 attacks since the start of 2026, injuring almost 1,700 Palestinians, with a sharp spike occurring last month, with 37 attacks documented in July alone.

“We cannot ignore what is happening,” said France’s delegate, adding that Israeli settlement activity is increasing in “absolute disregard” of international law. France and its European Union partners, he said, have enacted sanctions against the entities and individuals responsible. “We will take additional measures — including sanctions and trade measures — to address the situation,” he added. In that vein, Denmark’s delegate, Council President for August, in her national capacity, said: “We urge businesses to be aware of the potential legal, financial and reputational risks associated with bidding for these contracts.”

An incredible amount of damage has occurred during recess. Let’s see how or even if Burnham gets on to this when back….

Wish I could feel more hopeful.

Shame all religions which claim sacred areas in Jerusalem cannot share.

Over thousands of years different religions have built or claimed bits of the area for themselves. As newer religions came along they claimed areas others previously said were sacred. Religion can be very divisive.

Maybe one day all religions might all pray together.

This is a very worrying development and Jordan are clearly taking it seriously.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/04/jordan-convenes-emergency-meeting-israel-religious-conflict-jerusalem

All of these actions and statements for murder and genocide and the Israeli governments and IDFs involvement are always conveniently forgotten or rarely acknowledged when people try to justify the killing and cleansing of Palestinians with the "but Hamas". The intent has been clear long before October 7th and has accelerated since then.

The "chosen ones" absolute extremist arrogant rubbish. No God chooses murderers and oppressors

@ilovepuppies2019 thank you for summing up the situation so well.

Settler violence is state sanctioned. The violence means that settlers illegally go into West Bank Palestinian communities, destroy property, bulldoze homes, set fires to mosques, sexually assault women and children and shoot families when and where the please. Attempts from Palestinians to get help from the police is met with the IDF punishing them. The police and the justice systems are fully controlled by the IDF. After that, they're billed for the costs of the IDF bulldozing their homes. Their land is stolen, their families are killed, their businesses are burned and their economy is destroyed. The settlers are illegal meaning that this is a flagrant violation of international law. The violence is at an all time high because elections are coming and Netanyahu wants as many illegal settlements locked down as possible. This is Palestinian land! This violence is state sanctioned in that Netanyahu and his Government have approved the illegal settlements, often pay settlers to go, have dismantled any police or justice system that could protect Palestinian citizens and pay and order the IDF to defend any Israeli settlers that kill or destroy Palestinian communities.

Israel have had control of the Westbank for a long time. They now have taken over 70% of Gaza. Senior members of Netanyahu's government have called for the removal or eradication of all Gazans (and broader Palestinian) on the grounds that they have a religious right to all of 'greater Israel' (which means Palestinian territories). They've now taken parts of Syria and Lebanon and bulldozed those homes of innocent civilians.

If you think that Jews shouldn't be threatened (and I very sincerely hope that you do as I'm sure all posters here do) then why is okay for Palestinians to be killed, violated or wiped out? Israel's solution to defending themselves is to eradicate all Palestinians. For an unknown reason, this is viewed as acceptable self-defence from Israel and efforts from Palestinians to even gain awareness of the genocide is shut down and we're reminded that Israel's right to defend themselves is paramount above all civilian lives. What Hamas did is horrific and than goodness they're viewed as terrorists. The Netanyahu government are also terrorists with a similar agenda and the same frighting justification of ideology.

I encourage you to read reports from the UN and other reputable organisations about the atrocities committed in the Westbank. I hope this helps.

You justify the settler violence?? Wow! Please explain to me why?

Terrorism is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, to achieve political, religious, or ideological goals.

What do you think about the "settlers" who use violence and intimidation on Palestinians and are supported and encouraged in this by the IDF and Israeli government.

This is nothing to do with defence .

I don't see Israel's actions as terrorism. They're under fire from all sides, of course they fight back to manage the threat.

The needs of one are being put over the other and it's so wrong.

In what way? Antisemitism is very high at the moment, that doesn't seem like Jewish people's needs are being prioritised to me.

Then when friends, family and community protest and scream out at the international community they're told that they're antisemitic and making others uncomfortable. Investigations are then held and we strengthen laws to stop the Palestinian community speaking out because it's antisemitic. I don't want anyone in the community to feel uncomfortable but we're stopping people from decrying the genocide that's taking place and pleading for Western Governments to end their involvement instead of listening to the reasons behind those protests and concerns. We should be doing all that we can to protect the innocent civilians in Palestine and also protecting our Jewish communities. The needs of one are being put over the other and it's so wrong.

Absolutely. Little by little.

Can't even imagine what it must be like to live somewhere where you know you can't even go to the police or Justice system when someone attacks or robs from you because they are on the criminals side . Even the government call for your expulsion.And knowing as well some of the most powerful countries in the world also support this.

And then they wonder why ordinary people turn to terrorist groups

It’s fairly clear what Israel wants Palestinians to do - they want them to cease to exist.

It's heart breaking. Yet when protestors try to decry the involvement of Western Governments in this state sanctioned terrorism they're called out as antisemitic. We're quite close to being called antisemitic for wanting to talk about this or even holding the view that settler violence is wrong. If this was any other country we'd have the maximum level of sanctions. What are Palestinians meant to do?

Exactly. It's fully state supported. Israel should be under the highest level of sanctions and US support should be stopped. Religious organisations selling illegal land should be raided and the individuals charged.

UK Lawyers for Israel are an absolute bloody disgrace.

Israeli settlers set fire to mosques, cars and farm land in West Bank, Palestinians say https://share.google/1Yh0Vel2cz8XrC4HD
Residents of the West Bank are being attacked by Israeli terrorists all at the encouragement and sanction of Netanyahu.

Settler terrorism is state backed - funded and organised by Israel. Sanctioning individuals is not working. There needs to be full trade sanctions.

Natasha Hausdorf of UK Lawyers for Israel should be ashamed.

She was interviewed and stated Israel has not dispossesed anyone of their home in the West Bank.

Clear to see how that narrative and her also assertion that she has no problem with the settlements being increased can be truly believed when it's being repeated by people in the public eye.

There are people doing things. Some settlers are sanctioned by the UK.

UK sanctions individuals and entities linked to Israeli settlers in West Bank | The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

That is just one example. Biden sanctioned loads too, Of course, Trump removed those sanctions,

Trump revokes Biden executive order imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers | The Times of Israel

So no need to feel ashamed I think. Plenty of people doing things that you can support. If you are on twitter or whatever, give them a thumbs up.

I too am ashamed. The thing that strikes me is WHY nobody's doing anything... Israel obviously has too much influence. Yet constantly plays the victim. Disgusting.

Did you miss the bit about the US Congressman ?

Democratic Rep. Khanna says Israeli settlers and IDF soldiers blockaded him in West Bank for over an hour | CNN