WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in reintroducing the Sanctions and Accountability for Non-Compliance and Transparent Investigative Oversight for National Security (SANCTIONS) in the West Bank Act. This legislation will codify a Biden Administration Executive Order allowing for sanctions against extremists in the West Bank who promote or engage in violence, displacement of civilians, or the destruction of property. The legislation provides a clear framework for lifting sanctions under appropriate conditions and strengthening oversight and accountability on imposed sanctions.
In the last ten years, nearly 1,800 Palestinians, including 500 women and children, were killed in the West Bank—1,400 of which were killed with live ammunition. Violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has surged since the horrific attack of October 7th, 2023. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank, including 159 Palestinians in 2025 alone.
“Growing settler violence in the West Bank harms civilians, jeopardizes regional stability, and is a serious threat to U.S. national security. The Biden Administration’s Executive Order had been crucial in addressing the Netanyahu government’s failure to take action against those who instigate heinous acts of fear and hate, and it should become statute,” said Senator Welch. “Sanctions have been an effective tool to deter violence for those living in the West Bank, where lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed, and families have been forever changed. We must ensure accountability for extremists who perpetrate violence against civilians in the West Bank and reaffirm our commitment to a lasting Middle East peace.”
“The Netanyahu Government – driven by racist extremists like Smotrich and Ben-Gvir – continues to fuel settler violence and support the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank. The United States must not turn a blind eye to these acts – especially as another American citizen was recently killed following a settler attack in the West Bank – the eighth American killed there since 2022. Rather than hold the perpetrators of these and other violent acts to account, the Trump Administration did the opposite when it revoked the Biden Administration’s sanctions that had been imposed on violent settlers and rescinded the underlying authority to do so. That sent a terrible message that violent settlers could literally get away with murder. This legislation will help restore accountability for those instigating violence – in an effort to preserve a path to peace, security, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians alike,” said Senator Van Hollen.
On the first day of President Trump’s second term, his Administration revoked President Biden’s Executive Order and the sanctions imposed on violent settlers. Since then, the Trump Administration has approved the sale of weapons to the Israeli National Police, whose units are credibly accused of violating human rights and killing American citizens, and other violent actors. The Biden Administration had previously delayed or withheld comparable sales of rifles, citing concerns about civilian harm.
Last month, Awdah Hathaleen—a Palestinian teacher, community leader, father, and peace activist in the West Bank town of Umm Al-Khair—was killed by settler terrorist Yinon Levi. Levi has been sanctioned by the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union, and was previously sanctioned by the United States under the Biden Administration’s Executive Order for perpetrating violence against Palestinians.
Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank have also killed at least ten U.S. citizens in the past three years. These killings have been met with a lack of accountability from the Netanyahu government and a pattern of indifference by the U.S. government. These failures have contributed to an unacceptable culture of impunity when it comes to killing of civilians in the West Bank, including Americans.
The SANCTIONS in the West Bank Act is supported by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Human Rights Watch, New Jewish Narrative, Peace Action, Quincy Institute, and Win Without War.
Senator Welch has been a leading voice in calling for an indefinite ceasefire in Gaza to stop the bombing, prevent further loss of civilian life, extend access to humanitarian relief to those who had been displaced, and continue negotiations to secure hostages. Last week, Senator Welch joined 28 colleagues calling on the Trump Administration to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Saifullah Kamel Musallet, an American citizen recently killed near the West Bank town of Sinjil.
Senator Welch also joined 26 Senate Democrats in voting to block the transfer of tens of thousands of fully automatic assault rifles to arm a police force overseen by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has long advocated for the forcible expulsion of Palestinians from the region. Ben-Gvir was convicted of racist incitement and support for terrorism and has been distributing weapons to violent settlers in the West Bank.
Learn more about the SANCTIONS in the West Bank Act.
Read the full text of the bill.
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