EU ends deadlock to sanction West Bank settlers, spares Smotrich & Ben-Gvir
The European Union finally passed sanctions against “violent” Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Monday, as well as “leading Hamas figures.” This marks the bloc’s first unanimous punitive action against Israeli settlers since the start of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The sanctions package targets three individual settlers and four settler organizations. While their identities have not yet been officially released, the measures represent a narrowed version of the European Commission’s original proposal.
In a move to secure the necessary unanimous support from all member states, the names of Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir were removed from the final list. However, sanctions on alleged leading Hamas figures have remained uncontested.
The Commission, the EU’s executive arm, had first put forward these sanctions in 2025. However, they were repeatedly blocked by Hungary. The diplomatic deadlock was broken only after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was defeated in national elections.
The decision, announced by the European Commission’s Vice-President Kaja Kallas, came after the longstanding veto imposed by Hungary was overturned with the ouster of Viktor Orbán’s government.
The sanctions arrive as the EU considers further leverage against Israel. The Commission has proposed the suspension of a bilateral trade agreement, while also reviewing a joint French-Swedish proposal to impose tariffs on goods produced in illegal West Bank settlements.
The shift in policy follows a letter signed by more than 400 former diplomats, ministers, and senior officials. The signatories urged the EU to take decisive action against Israeli settlements, which are considered illegal under international law.
The appeal was triggered by Israel’s recent announcement to proceed with the “E1” construction project, to expand the Ma’ale Adumim settlement in East Jerusalem. The plan involves building 4,000 settlement units across 12 square kilometers of the occupied West Bank—a project which would permanently sever East Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.
The security situation in the occupied territory has deteriorated sharply. Since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran on Feb. 28, deadly attacks by Israeli settlers—who have occupied the West Bank since 1967—have surged significantly.
Evidence suggests that military operations frequently synchronize with settler activity to advance the expansion of illegal colonies. While the Israeli army conducts sweeping arrest campaigns, settlers often storm Palestinian residences to vandalize property and intimidate inhabitants.
Last month, the UN detailed a harrowing pattern of violations, including physical assaults and sexual harassment within Palestinian homes. According to its report, the escalation has forced the displacement of more than 2,500 Palestinians since the start of 2026, including over 1,100 children.
The Palestinian Information Center, documented approximately 1,965 such attacks in February alone. Since the beginning of the year, the center has recorded a staggering 18,595 violations, resulting in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and hundreds of injuries.
In a move that further undermines the 1995 Oslo II Accord, the Israeli Security Cabinet recently ratified changes to land administration laws. These new measures allow for the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures even in Area A—territory nominally under Palestinian Authority control.
Following the approval of 19 new settlements on Dec. 11, rights groups describe these actions as an unprecedented effort to impose a permanent “fait accompli” on the ground, effectively ending the possibility of a sovereign Palestinian state and cementing Israel’s illegal presence.