The European Union reached a consensus on Monday to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers and senior Hamas figures, following a meeting of member states' foreign ministers. The long-awaited measures target three Israeli settlers and four settler organizations over violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, though their identities have not been publicly disclosed.

The sanctions had been blocked for months by Hungary's former premier Viktor Orbán, but the appointment of new Prime Minister Peter Magyar on Saturday led to a swift lifting of the veto. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas welcomed the breakthrough, stating on social media: "It was high time we move from deadlock to delivery. Extremisms and violence carry consequences."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot praised the move, saying the EU is "sanctioning the main Israeli organizations guilty of supporting the extremist and violent colonization of the West Bank." He added that "these most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay."

Israel swiftly condemned the sanctions. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called them "arbitrary and political," asserting the right of Jews to settle in the West Bank despite international law. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir denounced the EU as "antisemitic," vowing that "the settlement enterprise will not be deterred."

The sanctions also target Hamas leaders, whom Barrot accused of being responsible for "the worst antisemitic massacre in our history since the Shoah," referring to the October 7, 2023 attack. Hamas official Basem Naim accused the EU of hypocrisy and racism, equating "a fascist executioner with the victim."

According to the UN, Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank reached its highest level since 2017 in 2025. Over 500,000 Israelis live among some 3 million Palestinians in the territory, which has seen near-daily violence since the Gaza war began. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank.

While the EU has moved ahead on settler sanctions, there is no consensus yet on further steps like curbing trade with Israel. However, with Hungary no longer blocking action, momentum could build, though other member states remain cautious. Italy's Antonio Tajani said the European Commission would propose a ban on products from Israeli settlements.

Source: www.aljazeera.com