EU sanctions on West Bank settlers were announced after the European Union imposed new restrictive measures on four organizations and three individuals linked to Israeli settlement activity.
The EU said the sanctions were adopted under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime in response to what it described as serious and systematic violations of Palestinian rights in the occupied West Bank.
The decision follows a political agreement reached by EU foreign ministers on May 11, 2026.
Organizations and individuals targeted
According to a statement by the Council of the European Union, the sanctions include:
The settlement movement “Nahala” and its director Daniela Weiss
The Israeli NGO “Regavim” and its director Meir Deutsch
“Hashomer Yosh” and its head Avihai Suissa
The cooperative association “Amana,” affiliated with the “Gush Emunim” movement
The EU stated that the listed entities and individuals were involved in supporting or facilitating the establishment of settlement outposts on privately owned Palestinian land, restricting access to farmland and grazing areas, and contributing to displacement.
Alleged rights violations
The Council said the violations include:
Attacks on the physical and psychological integrity of Palestinians
Infringement of property rights and private life
Interference with freedom of religion and education
The statement cited, among other cases, calls to demolish a Palestinian primary school near Bethlehem that was funded by the European Union.
Nature of the sanctions
The measures include:
Freezing of assets belonging to listed individuals and entities
Travel bans within the European Union
Prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to them
With these additions, the total number of persons and entities subject to EU sanctions under the Global Human Rights Regime rises to 136 individuals and entities and 41 organizations.
Expanded sanctions on Hamas and Islamic Jihad
In a separate decision, the Council of the European Union approved the expansion of restrictive measures against Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The move includes the addition of ten members of Hamas’ political bureau to the EU sanctions list, citing their alleged role in planning, supporting, or publicly justifying violent acts.
As a result, the number of persons and entities listed under this framework increases to 21 individuals and three entities. The sanctions regime has also been extended until January 20, 2027.
Legal framework
The EU established this specific sanctions framework in January 2024 to hold accountable individuals and entities that support, facilitate, or enable violent acts carried out by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
It complements the EU’s broader counterterrorism listings already in place against the two groups under the bloc’s terrorism sanctions regime.
Conclusion:
The latest EU sanctions on West Bank settlers reflect a tightening of the European position regarding alleged human rights violations linked to settlement activity. At the same time, the expansion of measures against Hamas officials underscores the EU’s continued use of sanctions tools across multiple dimensions of the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
