The Hague – Forty nations have proposed a comprehensive package of sanctions against Israel, including arms embargoes and mandatory traveler screenings, to counter what they describe as the “de facto annexation” of the West Bank through accelerated settlement expansion.
The proposal emerged from the largest gathering of The Hague Group since its inception in 2025, co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia. The meeting brought together states determined to enforce international law regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
‘Direct Assault’ on Self-Determination
According to the co-chairs’ statement, the group presented these measures in response to an “unprecedented acceleration” of settlement policies that constitute a “direct assault” on Palestinian self-determination.
The proposed enforcement tools include:
- Traveler Screenings: A disclosure requirement for travelers with Israeli documents, subjecting those who served in the military to “secondary screening at ports of entry” under war-crimes inadmissibility rules.
- Settlement Goods Ban: Total prohibition on the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements.
- Arms Embargo: A halt to the “transfer, transit or carriage of arms” and military fuel to Israel.
‘Complicity or Compliance’
The statement issued a stark warning to governments worldwide, asserting that they face a clear choice between “complicity or compliance.”
“History will judge us not by the speeches we delivered, but by the actions we took,” the statement declared.
Legal Foundation
The diplomatic push follows the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) landmark opinion in July 2024, which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In February 2026, Israel’s cabinet approved further measures tightening control over the occupied West Bank and making it easier for settlers to purchase land—a move Palestinians immediately labeled “de-facto annexation.”
Escalating Context
Israel has significantly intensified military operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since launching its Gaza campaign on October 8, 2023. Palestinians view the current escalation—including killings, arrests, displacement, and settlement expansion—as a deliberate step toward formal annexation of the territory.
The West Bank remains among the territories Palestinians seek for a future independent state. Currently, much of it is under Israeli military control, with limited Palestinian self-rule in some areas administered by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
What’s Next
The proposed sanctions package now faces the challenge of implementation, requiring consensus among participating nations and coordination with broader international bodies. The group’s statement suggests a determination to move from rhetoric to concrete action, setting the stage for a major diplomatic confrontation.
