European Union foreign affairs ministers agreed on Monday to impose sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, in response to rising violence and the continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. The ministers also agreed on further sanctions against Hamas.
On Monday, EU foreign ministers held discussions on Israel and Palestine, expressing deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza and the stalled implementation of the peace plan under UNSCR 2803. They stressed the need to sustain international engagement in the process, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, support Gaza’s early recovery, and reforms by the Palestinian Authority.
On the West Bank, ministers addressed the deteriorating security situation and recent measures by the Israeli government. In view of rising violence and continued expansion of settlements, and following up on previous European Council and Foreign Affairs Council conclusions, ministers reached a political agreement to move forward with targeted sanctions against extremist settlers and entities supporting settlements in the West Bank.
At the same time, ministers agreed to impose further restrictive measures against Hamas leading figures. The Council also discussed additional policy options, including possible trade-related steps on imports of goods originating from settlements.
Violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank has reportedly increased significantly in recent times, with repeated reports of attacks on Palestinian communities, farmland, and property, often linked to the expansion of settlements.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas wrote on X that EU foreign ministers had “just given the go-ahead” to impose sanctions against Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians.
She added that ministers also agreed on new sanctions against leading Hamas figures, saying it was “high time” to move from deadlock to delivery and stressing that extremism and violence carry consequences.
Reaction from Israel
The move drew a strong response from Israel. Gideon Sa’ar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, rejected the EU decision, arguing that it unfairly targets Israeli citizens and organizations based on political considerations. The attempt to impose political views through sanctions is unacceptable and will not succeed, he added.
Israeli minister said, “Equally outrageous is the unacceptable comparison the European Union has chosen to make between Israeli citizens and Hamas terrorists. This is a completely distorted moral equivalence.”
Gideon said Israel will continue to support the right of Jews to live in what he described as the heart of their homeland.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the European Union has not officially or transparently published the list of Israeli individuals and organisations it has decided to sanction. It added that information circulating through diplomatic channels suggests the sanctions list, which has not been publicly disclosed, includes individuals and organisations with no connection to violence or criminal activity.
