The European Union has imposed sanctions on four entities and three individuals it describes as "extremist Israeli settlers" responsible for "serious" human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The EU stated that the sanctioned parties violated a range of rights, including the rights to physical and mental integrity, privacy and family life, freedom of religion and education.
The announcement on Thursday is part of an EU sanctions package agreed earlier this month to punish Israeli settlers and Hamas leaders.
The sanctions include the Nachala Settlement Movement and its director, Daniella Weiss, whom the EU accuses of encouraging and facilitating coercive acts leading to forced displacement of Palestinians.
Also sanctioned are Israeli NGO Regavim and its director, Meir Deutsch, for lobbying for the demolition of Palestinian property and an EU-funded Palestinian primary school, aiming to expand Israeli control over the entire West Bank.
The Hashomer Yosh NGO and its president, Avichai Suissa, were sanctioned for supporting at least 28 violent outposts and settlements, recruiting armed volunteers, and providing guards involved in violent attacks.
The Amana cooperative association of the settler movement Gush Emunim was also sanctioned for its key role in initiating, financing, and facilitating at least 30 violent outposts and settlements.
With these additions, the EU now sanctions 136 individuals and 41 entities under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, established in 2020 to address genocide, crimes against humanity, and other serious human rights violations.
The measures against Israeli settlers had long been blocked by Hungary's former illiberal government under Viktor Orbán, but the appointment of new Prime Minister Peter Magyar led to the veto being lifted earlier this month.
Israel condemned the sanctions, asserting the right of Jews to settle in the occupied West Bank, despite this violating international law. In 2025, settlement expansion reached its highest level since at least 2017, according to UN data.
Since the start of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, the West Bank has seen almost daily violence involving Israeli troops and settlers, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed, per the UN.
Source: www.aljazeera.com