The United States placed fresh penalties on West Bank settlers on Wednesday for violence against Palestinians, requesting greater accountability from its partner Israel, which reacted angrily to the decision. The penalties were issued on the same day that Israel launched a massive attack on the West Bank, claiming to have killed nine Palestinian fighters, despite President Joe Biden’s administration’s cautions not to escalate the conflict in Gaza.

“Extremist settler violence in the West Bank causes intense human suffering, harms Israel’s security, and undermines the prospects for peace and stability in the region,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. “It is critical that the government of Israel hold accountable any individuals and entities responsible for violence against civilians in the West Bank,” he told reporters.

Hashomer Yosh, an Israeli entity that has backed the unauthorized settler outpost of Meitarim Farm in the south Hebron Hills, was among the most recent punishment targets. Earlier this year, volunteers from the group fenced off a community whose 250 Palestinian people had been forced to flee, according to the State Department.

Hashomer Yosh, an Israeli entity that has supported the illegal settler settlement of Meitarim Farm in the south Hebron Hills, was among the most recent targets. According to the State Department, volunteers from the group fenced off a village earlier this year from which 250 Palestinians had been forced to escape.

The State Department also imposed penalties on Yitzhak Levi Filant, who was accused of leading armed settlers in erecting roadblocks and patrols with the intent of harming Palestinians. Since Hamas’ unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which ignited war in Gaza, Israeli forces have increased operations in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory held by Israel since 1967 and geographically separated from Gaza by Israeli land.

An AFP analysis based on Palestinian official numbers shows that Israeli troops or settlers have murdered at least 640 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza conflict. The Biden administration has regularly expressed concern to Netanyahu over settler violence and settlement construction, but its efforts have had little impact on Isreal

The Biden administration, which has been advocating for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, has refrained from placing penalties on government ministers who are driving the settlement strategy. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also heads civil affairs at the defense ministry, approved a new settlement on a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Bethlehem earlier this month, citing the need to “fight against the dangerous project of creating a Palestinian state by creating facts on the ground.”