The United States has unveiled further sanctions against Israeli settlers over attacks on Palestinians and destruction of property in the West Bank, AFP reports.

The latest sanctions target the Hilltop Youth, which the US Treasury Department described as a “violent extremist group” and comes amid soaring tensions in the region nearly a year after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel.

The US sanctions follow similar moves targeting the group by Australia, Britain and the European Union.

“The worsening violence and instability in the West Bank are detrimental to the long-term interests of Israelis and Palestinians, and the actions of violent organisations like Hilltop Youth only exacerbate the crisis,” said Acting Treasury Under Secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Bradley Smith.

Read more here.