France imposes sanctions against 28 'extremist Israeli settlers'

French Foreign Ministry condemns 'unacceptable' violence perpetrated by settlers against Palestinian population

A wall divides the Palestinian West Bank territory, top, from an illegal Israeli settlement below, in Al Ram, the occupied West Bank. Getty Images

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France on Tuesday accused 28 "extremist Israeli settlers" of committing human rights abuse against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank and placed sanctions against them.

The country's Foreign Ministry said the 28 individuals are now banned from entering French territory.

The ministry said it firmly condemned "unacceptable" violence perpetrated by settlers against the Palestinian population that had increased in recent months.

"It is the responsibility of the Israeli authorities to put an end to it and to prosecute those who commit it," it added.

France will also be seeking to sanctions at European level, it said.

The announcement comes after the United Kingdom on Monday said it was imposing sanctions on four "extremist Israeli settlers" accused of committing human rights abuse against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The United States had already announced punitive measures against one of them, as well as three others, on February 1 over what it called "intolerable" violence.

About 490,000 settlers live among approximately three million Palestinians in the West Bank, in settlements that are considered illegal under international law.

"Colonisation is illegal under international law and must cease," the French Foreign Ministry added, saying it was "incompatible with the establishment of a viable Palestinian state".

Israeli settler violence driving Palestinians from their homes - video

Since October 7, Israeli troops and illegal settlers have killed at least 390 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Ramallah.

The latest Gaza war began after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also took about 250 people hostage, 130 of whom are thought to still be in Gaza, according to Israeli figures. Israel says 29 of the remaining captives are presumed dead.

Israel's relentless bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza has killed nearly 28,500 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.