Israeli Forces Demolish Palestinian Homes in West Bank as EU Considers Settlement Goods Ban

Israeli forces have demolished several Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank, while Israeli settlers have carried out attacks on residents in a further escalation of violence ahead of Israel’s elections in October.

In Birzeit, north of Ramallah, Israeli soldiers demolished two residential buildings, reportedly citing a lack of building permits, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

In Nablus, Israeli forces also used a bulldozer to demolish a two-storey Palestinian home and a three-storey building that was still under construction.

Meanwhile, settlers attacked the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah. Video verified by Al Jazeera showed large groups of settlers entering the village and clashing with Palestinians by throwing stones.

Witnesses said the settlers entered the village from several directions on Monday night, attacked residents, attempted to set vehicles on fire and stole livestock.

The latest violence comes as Ireland pushes for European Union sanctions on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The United Nations human rights office said last month that settler violence in the West Bank had reached an “all-time high”, amid continued settlement expansion and increased violence against Palestinian communities.

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss settlement expansion and settler violence during a two-day meeting in Ireland beginning Tuesday.

Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, is seeking coordinated action among member states, including restrictions on goods originating from Israeli settlements.

The European Commission has reportedly considered several options, including an import licensing system, higher tariffs or a complete ban on settlement goods.

Under existing EU rules, products from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank must be labelled as originating from the occupied territory rather than Israel. However, the bloc has not imposed a general ban on trade with the settlements.

Any new EU policy could face difficulties because member states remain divided over Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Irish Minister of State Neale Richmond said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory and its failure to prevent settler violence violated international law, arguing that European governments should not be complicit in such actions.

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