SEDNY, Thursday, February 29, 2024 (WAFA) – New Zealand on Thursday joined the US and UK in sanctions on several extremist Israeli settlers amid escalating violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced travel bans on a number of extremist Israeli settlers who have committed violent attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

“New Zealand is seriously concerned by the significant increase in extremist violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinian populations in recent months. This is particularly destabilizing in what is already a major crisis,” said Luxon.

Luxon added that his country imposed travel bans on a number of people known to have committed violent acts and that these individuals will not be able to travel to New Zealand.

“New Zealand has taken this step to signal clearly that this behaviour is unacceptable," Peters also said.

“Individuals responsible for perpetrating acts of violence are undermining peace, security and stability in this region.

"Settlements undermine the prospects for a viable two-state solution. Recent statements by some Israeli ministers about plans for further settlement construction are of serious concern and will raise tensions further between Israelis and Palestinians,” the foreign minister added.

Earlier this month, the US and UK also imposed sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers amid threatening Palestinians, often at gunpoint, and forcing them off land that is rightfully theirs.

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