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

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The problem of Israeli terrorism is getting worse and worse. Just over the past few weeks amongst other things Israeli terrorists have killed multiple people, commited sexual assault, beaten and threatened to rape young Palestinian girls, continually attacked the residents and property of the only remaining fully Christian town in the West Bank, stolen 100s of sheep from the Bedouin community, beaten activists who are there to provide a protective presence to Palestinians, set fire to property.

Palestinians don't have the right to defend themselves from this violent, rapidly escalating Israeli terrorism. They can't arrest and detain the Israeli terrorists. They are sitting ducks with no means of protecting themselves from beatings and sexual violence. Is it time that the international community steps in and sanctions Israel until they can control their obvious terrorism problem? What else can be done to try and protect innocent people from this escalating Israeli violence?

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?

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

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

I saw a headline that read IDF arrest dozens across the West Bank and for a split second I thought good, at least they are taking action against the 'settlers' this time, then I quickly realised that no it's actually the people whose villages are being raided that are being arrested ☹️

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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

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.

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

An Israeli 'settlers' view on the situation.

"I think now, after they killed one Israeli, we need to kill all the people in Tal and Sarra, even Jit and Farata," he said, naming the Palestinian villages closest to the outpost.

I put it to him that he was equating one Jewish life with hundreds or even thousands of Palestinian lives.

"No," he said, "millions. One Jewish life, it's 10 million [Palestinians]."

Challenged on the racism of his statement, he did not deny it.

"Yes, I know," he replied. "But this is the truth, because God chose us [and] because of this you are jealous."

This is who the Israeli government and the IDF are supporting and arming.

www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4djgdyk2o

And here they are being protected by the IDF as they march into Tal where he said he needs to kill everyone.

www.reuters.com/world/israeli-military-cracks-down-west-bank-village-settlers-march-2026-07-31/

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

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

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.