European Union Foreign Ministers reached a preliminary agreement on Monday to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as to tighten sanctions on members of Hamas. This marks the first time the 27 member states of the European Union have agreed to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers engaging in violence, thereby following in the footsteps of the United States and Britain.
Josep Borrell, the EU’s Foreign Policy Chief, told reporters after the ministers’ meeting in Brussels, “A compromise was agreed upon… I hope that this agreement continues until its full implementation soon, but the political agreement is there.”
While much of the international attention has focused on Hamas’s cross-border attack on Israel, which responded by waging war, European officials also expressed their grave concern about the escalation of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
The European Union has put in place a sanctions regime specifically targeting Hamas, particularly following the group’s attack on Israel on October 7th.
Diplomats stated that the EU would impose new sanctions on Hamas before imposing sanctions on the Israeli settlers.
This sequence is important for EU countries close to Israel, such as Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, which wanted to emphasize that they do not differentiate between the sides.
Diplomats added that Hungary had strongly opposed imposing sanctions on violent settlers but recently changed its stance.
Borrell stated that countries that previously opposed the proposal have now decided to abstain from voting, and it is now necessary to ratify a list of those who will be subject to sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes.
The conflict related to the proposed sanctions reflects broader divisions over the Middle East, as some EU countries strongly support Israel while others lean towards supporting the Palestinians.
The recent developments on ceasefire efforts in Gaza have seen significant international involvement, with various countries and organizations pushing for an end to the violence. After nearly five months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has led to devastating impacts on the Gaza Strip, there have been mediated negotiations involving the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. These efforts aimed at a ceasefire and a hostage deal have shown some progress, but the path to a lasting truce remains complex. Israeli negotiators have engaged in discussions with mediators, and although there is an outline for a truce, significant differences remain, especially regarding the conditions for a ceasefire and the handling of hostages and prisoners.
The United Nations has been actively involved in seeking a lasting ceasefire and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The UN’s efforts have been focused on solidifying the ceasefire, allowing urgent humanitarian assistance, and stabilizing the situation in Gaza. Despite the ceasefire negotiated last month between Israel and Hamas, the situation has been described as very fragile, with ongoing violence and provocations highlighting the need for a genuine political process to address the underlying issues.
The situation has been further complicated by an “unprecedented escalation” of hostilities and a communications blackout in Gaza, leading to grave concerns over the delivery of humanitarian aid and the safety of UN staff and civilians in the area. The UN Secretary-General has emphasized the need for at least a humanitarian pause to facilitate the delivery of aid and the evacuation of third country nationals.
