US Sanctions Hilltop Youth Group for Attacks on Palestinians in West Bank

The United States has imposed sanctions on Hilltop Youth, a group of extremists in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, for attacks on Palestinians.

The U.S. Treasury Department announced the sanctions on Tuesday, which can expose people to asset freezes and travel and visa bans.

It comes as part of a broader effort to address the surge of violence in the region since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, when Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest airstrikes against Gaza. As of Tuesday, at least 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, The Associated Press reported, per the Israeli government. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, per the Gaza Health Ministry, according to the outlet.

The U.S. Treasury Department described Hilltop Youth as responsible for killings and mass arson, while rights groups and Palestinians say the group orchestrated “price tag” attacks—retaliatory attacks on Palestinian villages aimed at hampering settlement construction.

Palestinians have reported verbal and physical harassment, restriction of movement and intimidation from settlers circling their properties on motorbikes, cars or horses as well as alleged spying via drones.

Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Tuesday for comment.

“The worsening violence and instability in the West Bank are detrimental to the long-term interests of Israelis and Palestinians, and the actions of violent organizations like Hilltop Youth only exacerbate the crisis,” Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith said in a statement. “The United States will continue to hold accountable the individuals, groups, and organizations that facilitate these hateful and destabilizing acts.”

In addition, the State Department placed diplomatic sanctions on two men. Israeli settler Eitan Yardeni was sanctioned for his involvement in violent acts against West Bank civilians, while Avichai Suissa, leader of Hashomer Yosh—a group that organizes settler farms in disputed areas—was also sanctioned.

Due to the decentralized nature of Hilltop Youth, effectively enforcing the U.S. sanctions may prove challenging. In addition, Israel’s finance minister has previously vowed to intervene on sanctioned settlers’ behalf, and in the past, sanctioned settlers have downplayed the financial impact.

Hilltop Youth has previously been sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the sanctions come amid growing criticism of the Biden administration’s perceived hesitancy in imposing more sanctions on Israeli extremists. According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, 27 extremists and entities have been sanctioned by the U.S. under President Joe Biden’s February 2024 Executive Order related to maintaining West Bank stability.

However, the State Department has reiterated their efforts in holding these groups accountable,

“The actions of these individuals have contributed to creating an environment where violence and instability thrive. Their actions, collectively and individually, undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.