Arabic version: الاتحاد الأوروبي يفرض عقوبات على المستوطنين الإسرائيليين وقادة حماس

The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers and leading Hamas figures. This decision was made during a meeting of foreign ministers from EU member states on May 11, 2026. The sanctions, which have been long anticipated, target Israeli settlers in the West Bank accused of violence against Palestinians. These measures were previously stalled by Hungary’s government, which had been led by Viktor Orban until the recent appointment of Peter Magyar as Prime Minister.

According to Al Jazeera, the sanctions package targets three Israeli settlers and four settler organizations, although their identities have not yet been publicly disclosed. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed relief at the resolution of the deadlock, stating, “Extremisms and violence carry consequences.”

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed the turnaround, asserting that the EU is now sanctioning the main Israeli organizations guilty of supporting extremist actions in the West Bank. He emphasized that these most serious and intolerable acts must cease without delay. Following the sanctions agreement, Israel condemned the measures, arguing that they violate the rights of Jews to settle in the occupied territories. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the EU’s actions as politically motivated and lacking a solid basis.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir labeled the EU as “antisemitic,” claiming that the sanctions hinder Israel’s right to defend itself. He reaffirmed the commitment to continue settlement activities throughout the entire land of Israel.

In addition to the sanctions on Israeli settlers, the EU has also decided to sanction the leadership of Hamas, linking these actions to the group’s involvement in the October 7, 2023, attack that resulted in significant casualties in Israel. Barrot described the attack as the worst antisemitic massacre since the Shoah, calling for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from any future political processes in Palestine. While the EU moves forward with these sanctions, discussions regarding further measures, such as trade restrictions, are ongoing among member states.