After a long wait, the European Union (EU) has finally agreed to impose sanctions on Israeli occupiers establishing settlements in the West Bank. Simultaneously, they have also imposed sanctions on several Hamas leaders.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas announced this information during a press conference held in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday. This decision was reached during a high-level meeting among the foreign ministers of EU member states regarding the sanctions. Previously, this proposal had been stalled due to the stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Under the sanctions package, three individual Israelis and four Israeli settler organizations have been targeted; however, their identities have not yet been disclosed. This news was reported by Al Jazeera Online. Kaja Kallas stated, “Now is the time for us to break this deadlock.” She further remarked that there is a price to be paid for extremism and violence. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had blocked the sanctions for several months. Following the victory of Péter Magyar in the recent elections there, the EU has been able to adopt a number of decisions—of which this is one. Péter Magyar withdrew the veto previously exercised by Hungary.
Welcoming the proposal, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the objective of the sanctions is to take a stand against the violence and extremism perpetrated by illegal settlers in the West Bank. He emphasized that immediate decisions must be taken regarding such grave and intolerable matters. Péter Magyar assumed office on May 9th and swiftly lifted the veto. Israel has expressed its protest against this decision. They assert the right of Jews to establish settlements in the West Bank, despite such actions constituting a violation of international law. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, labeled the European Union as antisemitic. The EU sanctions also include several Hamas leaders who exert control over the West Bank; sanctions were imposed on them in connection with the attacks of October 7, 2023.
