Sanctions

War and rising settler violence could further alienate Israel

- Peter Beaumont

Israel is facing a long-threatened "diplomatic tsunami" on multiple fronts over its handling of the war in Gaza and the unprecedented rise in settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.

Amid almost monthly sanctions announcements from the US and European capitals over settler violence, which have incrementally expanded their scope, the Guardian understands yet more potential targets are under consideration.

Sanctions so far have targeted individuals and extremist organisations, and most recently a controversial friend and adviser of Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister.

As the US announced it was holding up a shipment of heavy munitions to Israel over Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on going ahead with an attack on Rafah, Ireland and Spain said they were committed to a formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Pressure is also mounting in Europe for a trade ban on Israeli settlement products. Alexander De Croo, the prime minister of Belgium - which chairs the Council of the European Union - has said he is seeking like-minded allies to push for a trade ban, arguing that Israel has potentially violated human rights guarantees in the EU-Israel association agreement.