The imposition of sanctions against Jewish settlers accused of attacks against Palestinians, the United States announced Tuesday, in an effort to end violence in the occupied West Bank.

“Today, the State Department is implementing a new visa restriction policy against individuals suspected of contributing to the undermining of peace, security or stability in the West Bank, primarily by committing acts of violence” against Palestinians, said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in a statement, calling these acts of violence “unacceptable”.

We did not specify how many people will be affected by the passport visa restrictions that will be imposed also to the relatives of the persons targeted.

The West Bank has been plagued by an escalation of violence since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7.

In Israel last Thursday, the head of American diplomacy warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his intention to impose visa restrictions on settlers, according to a senior US official. He also urged Israel to bring to justice extremist settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The United States has condemned violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and urged Israeli authorities to end it.

“We continue to speak with the Israeli leadership to make them understand that Israel must take additional measures to protect Palestinian civilians from extremist attacks,” added Anthony Blinken in the statement.

He also emphasizes that it is up to him to the Palestinian Authority to do “more to prevent Palestinian attacks against Israelis”.

“Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority have a responsibility to maintain stability in the West Bank,” he concludes.

In a month, at least 244 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by the Israeli army or Israeli settlers, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).