EU imposes sanctions on Israeli West Bank settlers

Brussels: (Web Desk) – The European Union has moved ahead with long-delayed sanctions targeting Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, after Hungary lifted its previous veto following a change in leadership in Budapest.

EU foreign policy chief Kaya Keles said the decision marks an end to political deadlock, stressing that extremism and violence must carry consequences. The sanctions package reportedly targets three Israeli settlers and four settler-linked organizations, although their identities have not yet been publicly disclosed.

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The move was welcomed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Bierrot, who said the EU is taking concrete action against groups linked to extremist settler activity and stressed that such violence must stop immediately.

Israel strongly condemned the decision. Foreign Minister Gidon Saar accused the EU of politically motivated actions lacking legal basis, insisting that Israel would continue to support Jewish settlement in what he described as its historic homeland. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also criticized the EU, calling it biased and vowing that settlement expansion would continue.

In parallel, EU foreign ministers also agreed to impose sanctions on senior figures within Hamas, citing their alleged role in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw about 240 taken hostage.

Hamas leader Bassem Naim rejected the EU measures, calling them political hypocrisy and accusing Europe of applying double standards in the conflict.

According to United Nations figures, more than 500,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the occupied West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem) among roughly three million Palestinians. Settlement expansion has reportedly reached its highest level since at least 2017, while violence in the region has intensified sharply since the Gaza war began, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank.

Although the EU has advanced sanctions against specific settlers, member states remain divided on broader measures against Israel, including trade restrictions. However, the end of Hungary’s opposition has opened space for possible future policy shifts, including discussions on banning goods produced in settlements.